Met Office: Scotland experienced rare supercell thunderstorm

Glasgow Times

2 days ago

Experts have also hinted at a potential jet stream shift in the coming days, as the country continues to suffer turbulent and unpredictable weather patterns.
Earlier this month, most Glaswegians faced a damp and dreary start to June, with persistent rain, overcast skies, and high winds — all following a scorching April.
(Image: Newsquest)
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After experiencing the warmest and sunniest spring on record, many were left longing for more sunshine.
Thankfully, a brief mid-month heatwave brought some relief, with temperatures in the city soaring to highs of 27°C.
However, the sunny spell was short-lived, and the past week saw a return to heavy downpours across much of the country.
Tomorrow's forecast looks especially bleak, with the Met Office predicting 'heavy rain first thing and through the second half of the afternoon.'
Amidst the recent weather chaos, the Met Office revealed that Scotland experienced an extremely rare supercell thunderstorm last weekend — a phenomenon almost never seen in the UK.
While supercells are common in places like the central United States, they are highly unusual in the UK due to the specific conditions required to form them. Such as strong wind shear, elevated atmospheric instability, and a warm, moist air mass.
The forecaster confirmed that a supercell thunderstorm developed in the southeast of Scotland, supported by Doppler radar data and reports of hail up to 2cm in diameter.
(Image: Newsquest)
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The weather experts said: 'Supercells are the most organised and long-lived type of thunderstorm.
'They are defined by a rotating updraft, known as a mesocyclone, which allows them to sustain themselves for hours and produce severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds, and even tornadoes.'
The forecaster continued: 'So, did the UK experience a supercell thunderstorm?
"The answer, in fact, is yes — at least one storm bore the hallmarks of a supercell, and possibly more.
"One storm even showed potential for 4cm hail, though this remains unverified due to its rural location and the fact it occurred late at night.'
The rare thunderstorm was linked to a powerful jet stream streak originating in North America, which continues to drive Atlantic weather systems towards Scotland.
This means that the west of the country is expected to see more heavy rain, strong winds, and possibly hail over the coming days, while the south may face thunderstorms, torrential rain, and gusty conditions.
However, forecasters suggest there is hope on the horizon. There are signs that the jet stream is weakening and moving further north over the weekend.
If this shift occurs, Scotland could experience a spell of more settled weather, with warmer air masses arriving from the south and temperatures climbing once again.
(Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Yellow weather warning issued ahead of thunderstorms this weekend
The Met Office said: 'Temperatures this week will reflect the contrasting air masses on either side of the jet stream.
"The southeast is likely to see highs in the mid-to-high 20s, with a chance of reaching 30°C early next week.
"Meteorograms for London and Glasgow illustrate this contrast — London shows a wide range of potential temperatures on Tuesday, from average to well above average, before returning to more typical levels midweek.
"Glasgow, meanwhile, sees a more modest rise, peaking in the low 20s, before cooling again.'