Brussels on Thursday 14th May

All times local CEST and approximate.

Sunny spells in the morning after early low cloud broke up. Increasing Cu
towards midday and by mid-afternoon it was largely cloudy with Cb
development. Heavy and fairly lengthy shower around 15.30 to 16.00 - 2 or
3 lightning flashes and thunder. Another shower 16.30 to 16.45 - then dry
and a bit brighter until 18.30.

Spell of heavy rain with sporadic thunder and lightning started around
19.00. Thunder stopped by 20.00 but rain continued at lesser intensity for
another hour or so Moderate rain again now at 22.45.

Start of the storm at 19.00 coincided with my 10-minute walk home from the
tram stop - so I arrived home wet but not, fortunately, electrically
charged.

Difficult rush hour in Brussels because of the rain. Tunnels on the inner
ring road partly under water with very slow traffic and hold-ups as a
result. About 100 calls to the Brussels fire brigade to deal with flooding
problems, according to Flemish TV teletext.

Quite warm and humid - light E wind while it was dry; variable wind during
the stormy period.

Brussels Uccle 21.3°C - overnight minimum 13.3°C - and 7 mm rain.
Brussels Airport 20.9°C - overnight minimum 12.9°C - and 9 mm.

Graph http://193.190.137.7/~celinair/maps/...ok/metr012.gif

Brussels Airport http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/EBBR.html

Rainfall radar http://www.buienradar.nl/h.aspx?jaar...t=loop24uur1x1

OGIMET monthly summary for Brussels Uccle http://tinyurl.com/qtdnba

Webcam Grand-Place http://www.bruxelles.be/artdet.cfm?id=4664&FMT=18

Webcam Uccle http://www.meteo.be/meteo/view/en/15...cam+Uccle.html

Colin Youngs
Brussels