UK Braces For First Storm Of Season - Predictions Up to Storm Force 11 - Reuters

[hatrack]

LONDON, Nov 24 - Britain is set to be battered by severe storms in the next few days with high winds posing the greatest problem. The Meteorological Office said "potentially damaging" gales gusting to up to 75 mph would hit many areas of the country on Saturday.
The worst hit places are likely to be in Wales, central, northern and eastern England.

"At this stage the precise path the storm will take remains unclear," the Met Office said in a statement. "Although the very strong winds are expected to be the main concern, the storm will also bring heavy rain and increased risk of flooding."

The Coastguard Agency advised mariners not to go out to sea in the extreme conditions.

"There are extremely high winds forecast for the next few days with the outlook suggesting gale force 8 to storm 10, perhaps even violent storm 11 later -- storm 11 is one force less than a hurricane," it said in a statement.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39157/story.htm

[phantom power]

1. but... these storms go up to 11.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. Thing is, what if the winds are closer to 100 mph?

Not entirely out of the realm of possibility.

Are those like a 14 or 15? :shrug:

And thanks for the reference. Now I can't get the whole "Lick My Love Pump" scene out of my head, or the dancing midgets twirling about an 18 INCH Stonehenge. :rofl:

[phantom power]

4. Interesting question. They said force-11 is "one less than a hurricane" but...

a hurricane is a particular kind of storm structure. Just because I've got winds of 100 miles per hour doesn't mean I get to call it a hurricane.

Regardless, I wouldn't want to be trod upon by one.
:evilgrin:

[hatrack]

6. "Do you have any idea what it will cost to dress the band up as meteorologists?"

:evilgrin:

Actually, it's the good old Beaufort Scale - and it does go to 12!

http://www.zetnet.co.uk/sigs/weather/Met_Codes/beaufort.htm

[Systematic Chaos]

7. Anything that far north, especially this time of the year

will have no tropical characteristics at all left, and it then becomes what is called an "extratropical cyclone". Basically just a very nasty area of low pressure with major circulation at its center, but no actual convection left because the water is much too cold.

Yeah, I'm a Weather Channel geek. So freaking sue me! :evilgrin:

[Dead_Parrot]

3. Hmmm

We are the children who grew too fast
We are the dust of a future past
We raise our voices in the night
Crying to heaven
And will our voices be heard
Or will they Break Like The Wind

It's worrying when ST lyrics start making sense. :evilfrown:

[phantom power]

5. whoa, I just got vertigo.