The storm that came to nothing

Blue sky inland towards the north.


Changing skies are a striking feature of New Forest landscapes. This morning I drove down towards the coast and was aware of bright blue sky behind me, but a dark grey, towering mass of stormy cloud ahead. Clouds were building on the Channel coast to the south. I pulled in and took some photographs from high land overlooking moor and woodland.

Looking to the south west, a tall cumulus rises up to form the anvil shape of a threatening storm cloud.

The sun rises behind a dark storm cloud. Rain could be seen falling over the distant sea.

Bubbling cumulus clouds to the east of the main storm.

All day, from my window looking south and not far from the coast, I watched the clouds threatening and rising over the coast, only to clear away inland to give a fine but breezy day. At home, I found an explanation in
Instant Weather Forecasting by Alan Watts . Here, he describes coastline clouds:

"Looking in the direction of the sea from a few miles inland, the observer sees an unstable airstream over the water only. This indicates that the sea is warmer than the land and is a phenomenon primarily of autumn and winter. "

He adds, for the benefit of sailors,

"Expect gusty showers if leaving harbour"!