Thunderstorm risks this weekend

The last few days here in East Anglia, UK has been very hot and humid. This could break tonight with heavy rain and thunderstorms. We need the rain.  It might be a "good idea"  to avoid amateur radio especially this next 24 hours.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/ .

Thunder risk (Thursday)

 Although I think the risk of thunderstorms this morning is low, I am taking no chances. I shall be out until lunchtime, so I have disconnected, antennas, PSUs and plugs from the mains to minimise risks of static build-up causing damage. So, I am not on ANY band this morning.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0;  .

Lightning stops play

Just now, we had a lightning flash and clap of thunder. Judging by the time delay, I would imagine it is 10km south of here. 

Just in case, I have disconnected PCs, PSUs and antennas in the shack. 

If it looks like the risk is going away, I shall probably reconnect things.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=;ts=0; 

Lightning

One of the pleasures of UK winter is the usual absence of thunder and lightning. In the UK they can occur, but they are far more common in the summer. 

Although I know the chances of a direct strike are low, they do occur. I know of 2 friends who had this. One of the more common things is a power surge as storms approach.

What I tend to do is keep a watchful eye on approaching storms. If there is any danger, I disconnect everything: antennas, mains plugs etc.. I have no idea if this is the correct strategy. My view is it is better to be safe than sorry.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

Thunder risks

As I have mentioned many times before, I am definitely no expert on thunder and lightning. 

My philosophy is simple: if there is any risk disconnect everything. 

That is antennas, PCs, mains plugs, mains earths etc.. Although the chances of a direct strike are low in the UK, they are not zero. Also, surges in main voltages with storms in the vicinity can cause damage. Always treat storm risks seriously. I keep and eye on approaching storms. If there is any risk, I take these precautions. 

If you want to try to prevent damage from a direct strike, very thick straps are needed as lightning can be very powerful.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/

Thunderstorms - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had a brief thunderstorm. More could happen later today. All my appliances and antennas remain disconnected. 

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/ .

Lightning

Thankfully, thunderstorms are infrequent in the UK in winter. In the more risky months I disconnect  antennas and PSUs to avoid the risk of power surges. A direct strike is probably going to totally ruin things.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps

Day off?

As there was a risk of storms today, I decided (for now at least) not to go on the air. At the moment, storms are still a long way away.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0; .

Storm threat stops play

Late this afternoon, I disconnected everything as we had the threat of thunder and lightning. This meant prematurely going QRT on 10m and 6m. All being well, I shall be on again on Monday morning. 

As it happened, the storms missed us. We heard distant thunder, but I suspect the actual storms were many miles away.

Thunder stops play

As we had thunderstorms after lunch, I turned off 10m WSPR and 6m FT8 as well as the PSU and PC. The storm has passed, but I shall wait until the morning before reconnecting things.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

Lightning threat?

Later, we have the threat of thunderstorms. At the moment there are storms on the near continent, but not here. If they get close I shall go QRT.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

UPDATE 1710z:  Still nothing here. At the moment the storms are not expected until 0100z tomorrow.

Storms

Amateur radio gear can be badly affected by nearby storms. Often, when there are storms nearby, there can be damaging power surges. I am always nervous with nearby storms. My normal practice is to disconnect everything until the storms have well passed. At the moment, the immediate risk seems to have passed.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps  .

Lightning

We escaped the storms last night. It rained, but that was all. We missed again last night the storms are creeping up from France and thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast for tomorrow.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/#m=oss;t=3;s=0;o=0;b=0.00;ts=0;z=6;y=50.6182;x=0.3762;d=2;dl=2;dc=0;

Storm risks

Maybe I am paranoid over the risk from nearby storms. Everything has been disconnected (PC, PSU, rigs, antennas) to avoid the risk of nearby voltage surges and strikes. If I miss something, does it matter? No.

See https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/other-amateur-radio/lightning-maps .

Thunder risk - everything disconnected

The skies have turned dark and it is windy and rainy. Thunder storms are about 30 kilometres away, so I have disconnected all antennas and plugs.  I am QRT.

If the threat passes I may reconnect things later.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?lang=en

UPDATE 1452z:  The storm seems to have bypassed us for now, so everything reconnected for now.

UPDATE 1504z: Well I got that wrong! Lightning, hail, rain - the lot! QRT again. After about 30 minutes I reconnected things.

Thunder?

Whenever there are storms around, I disconnect everything "just in case". Usually I disconnect antennas, mains plugs from rigs and PC.

 According to the BBC weather, there was a chance of thunder and hail, although the storm maps do not show any risk at present.

At the moment, all is still connected.

Caught out! Heavy storms

Whilst out at my U3AC course in Cambridge we had a heavy storm this afternoon. There was lots of hail and thunder. Everything was connected. Yet again, our weather forecast was hopeless as there was nothing of the storms forecast for here.

Luckily, all seems to be well and everything, as far as I can tell, is working at normal sensitivity. The next time I go out, I shall ignore the weather forecasts and disconnect everything.

When we return later (everything is currently disconnected) I shall try 2m FT8 with the FT817 at 2.5W.

472kHz FT8? and storm risks

At the moment, I have not had any interest in a 472kHz FT8 QSO attempt, so I shall remain on 472kHz WSPR unless I hear from anyone.

At the moment, the UK storm risks here look low.

I realise that my QRPP 472kHz WSPR signal has not been spotted since 0744z this morning.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk

Storm risk passed?

As you know, I look at the risks of storms quite often and disconnect things if they look near. At the moment, the risk locally seems to be decreasing. At the first sign, everything at risk will be disconnected.

See https://www.lightningmaps.org/blitzortung/europe/index.php?bo_page=map&bo_showmap=uk&bo_period=2&lang=en

UPDATE 1348z: Did I speak too soon?  Just heard a loud clap of thunder, so everything in the shack disconnected!

Back on air

The storm risk seems to have passed with both the BBC and Met Office weather forecasts showing no thunder and lightning this evening, so I have reconnected the rig, PC, PSU and antenna and have returned to 2m FT8.