This evening an intense ana-cold front is expected to move rapidly
eastwards across the UK. This front is likely to be accompanied by
strong pre-frontal wind gusts and, at the frontal passage, severe
gusts,wind shear and veer with tornadoes, intense precipitation
including small hail. The frontal passage is so sharp 5 minute AWS
observations are unlikely to capture key features of the front.
Therefore, can I ask AWS owners to turn on high resolution recording
for this evening eg 18Z onwards. It is possible that 'network'
observations and opportune observations by 'amateur' AWSs may be of
scientific value in helping elucidate the nature of damaging winds at
this type of cold front.
A paper detailing observations and simulations of the 24 September
2007 cold front is under review (provisionally accepted)at QJRMS-
Morphology and evolution of cold-frontal misocyclones, D.J. Smart and
K.A. Browning (Emeritus Professor University of Reading & University
of Leeds, UK).
I am particularly interested in reports of extreme wind gusts (25 m/
s, 49 kt) coincident with wind veer and reports of damage in the
locality.

Please post observations here or to me at
davidDOTwaghornATgmailDOTcom,
with thanks,
David Smart ('Waghorn')