On Sat, 22 Jan 2005 15:44:31 -0000, "Jack Harrison"
wrote:

I have made similar comments before, but here goes again.



At the England v South Africa cricket match at Centurion near Pretoria, bad
light stopped play Saturday afternoon. (The more sensible reason would have
been the risk to all and sundry by the severe thunderstorms that were
developing rapidly)


I recall a match a few years ago, at Leeds I think, when there was
clearly a danger of lightning as the player's hair was actually
standing on end.


Remarks were being made such as: "It's not coming our way because there's no
wind". And then: "There's quite a wind suddenly" (the outflow from the
storm). I must admit that didn't hear the usual one today: "At least the
clouds are high" (their understanding being that high clouds are not going
to cause problems - have they have never watched a warm frontal sequence?)


The "clouds are high therefore it will not rain" is a puzzler. It
took me a fair while as professional observer to estimate cloud height
to any degree of accuracy, how the Test Match commentators manage it
I've no idea, quite apart from the fact that steady, match-stopping
rain is more likely from high clouds.

Martin