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THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY

pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
in Plants
Yesterday evening we had a storm the likes of which I have never seen in my life.

It began at about 5pm with black clouds building up in the south and west with distant rumbles of thunder. Round about 5.30 a wall of rain hit us, along with lightning and thunder.

The initial rain was almost like a blizzard, the wind got up, and lightning struck all around us for about half an hour. The closest were about a five minute walk from the house. (There is a website called Blitzortung that allows you to follow lightning strikes in almost real time.)

A few moments of calm, blue skies were followed by another wave of storm clouds. This time, instead of rain we witnessed a hail storm of exceptional force. Hailstones the size of grapes were landing on the ground with such force that they bounced to waist height. This went on for the next ten minutes or so until the ground was white. 

Another lull. 

Another hail storm of similar ferocity.
Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
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  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    (Got cut off there)

    Another storm.

    Another lull.

    Another storm.

    This went on until 8.30 pm.

    At nine the hail was still lying on the ground.

    This morning I went out to take a look at the damage.

    What the frosts and gales of March left us, the storm has finished off. The fruit trees look as if a thousand bullfinches have been at work. The broad bean leaves are shredded. Ditto the chard and spinach.

    Climate change? Nah.
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,160
    What a shame @pansyface, I hope the plants recover. Must have been quite scary. Sounds like storms we've had in the past in Dordogne. After one of them my son-in-law's car was pitted with hail stone marks. They were staying for the weekend.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    edited May 2021
    Is hail damage an Act of God in the eyes of insurance companies?

    I bet it is.

    Well, when you think about it, everything is an act of god. They take our money anyway though.😕
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 23,160
    In France when there is bad weather damage the local Mayor declares a natural catastrophe then the insurance has to pay. But I think it only covers buildings like houses, not gardens.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • pansyfacepansyface Posts: 22,742
    Not visitors’ cars.😁
    Apophthegm -  a big word for a small thought.
    If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,580
    I remember such a storm in Leicester not so many years ago. Almost every vehicle in the car park of a very large secondary school got badly damaged by the hail.
    Rutland, England
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 86,989
    It must be more than 20 years ago when there was such a storm over Bro's farm ... family cars were left with large dents, windscreens shattered as if a 12 bore had been fired at them, and  as he walked the fields the next day he broke his heart finding leverets 'stoned to death' in their forms.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 14,632
    @pansyface we had exactly the same prolonged storm on the SW outskirts of Sheffield. It was fairly scary and the hail was still on the ground at 24.00 when I was out checking for Deer.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Bright starBright star Posts: 1,153
    Yesterday in Blackpool which is not far from where I live, a 9 year old boy was struck by lightning during a football coaching session, very sadly he died.😢. 
    Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

  • DB gardenerDB gardener Posts: 22
    The same storms also shredded my entire garden to bits...here is a photo from the first onslaught! I feel your pain @pansyface and @punkdoc  
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