29th May 2005: 00UTC
A frontal system is covering the Iberian peninsula. In the thickness ridge on the leading side of this front other CBs are recognised. Over Greece and Albania some remains of CBs are seen. Interesting are also the wave-like pertubations over Eastern Greece that develop because of shear on the boundary of the two governing systems. This will be the region where at a later stage some severe convective development will be seen.
29th May 2005: 01UTC
South of the Alps, over Romania and the northside of the Black Sea a WV dark stripe can be observed. This is where deepening of stratospheric air is taking place. On the boundary of the relatively humid and dry air at levels above 400 hPa some CBs have developed (Krim Peninsula).
29th May 2005: 02UTC
Over Eastern Greece and Western Turkey the cloudspiral of a comma-cloud can be seen. The cyclonic curvature can be seen quite well by the dark slot in WV6.2. Within the tail and Comma-head some convective cells are embedded (white bright spots).
29th May 2005: 03UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 04UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 05UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 06UTC
An increase in convectivity is seen over the Balkan region. Second interesting are the cyclonic structures seen over the Black Sea and the previously dicussed Comma over Greece and Turkey. The convection all starts on the boundaries of these WV features.
29th May 2005: 0645UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 08UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 09UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 10UTC
Immediately noticeable is the increase of convective cells over southern coastal region of Turkey. The cells develop on the boundaries where stratospheric air is deepening (dark slots) which makes the atmosphere unstable. Moisture substracted from the sea because of differential heating results in convective development.
29th May 2005: 11UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 12UTC
Big MCSs can be seen over Bulgaria, northern Turkey and Eastern Turkey. Especially the MCS over Bulgaria saw some explosive growth over the past few hours (Compare!). A line of CBs is recognised along both coastal areas.
The convective cells over Eastern France also reveal further development.
29th May 2005: 13UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 14UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 15UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 16UTC
Over Swiss and the Austrian Alps also some convection is seen. Due to orographic lifting some isolated convective cells can be recognised. In Eastern Turkey the convection becomes less. The bright white colours have changed into grey over the past hours. In Bulgaria and Greece most cells have "merged" into one big cell.
29th May 2005: 17UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 18UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 19UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 20UTC
Explosive development of convection over northern France, Belgium and Luxemburg. The mesoscalic convective system is situated on a WV boundary. Further south over Northern Spain, Andalusia and Gibralta more MCS are embedded into the system. The convection over the Balkan region is now more concentrated over Albania.
29th May 2005: 21UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 22UTC
The development continues.
29th May 2005: 23UTC
Further development seen in the frontal band as a whole line of convective cells forms. Affected are Northern France, the Benelux countries and Germany. More to the east a new cells is about to develop on a WV boundary (Hannover).
Further south over Northern Spain, Andalusia and Gibralta more MCS are embedded into the system. The convection over the Balkan region is now more concentrated over Albania. Over Poland some remnant CB clusters are still observed.
30th May 2005: 00UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 01UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 02UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 03UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 04UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 05UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 06UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 07UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 08UTC
In Turkey first indication of convection is seen as several small cells are recognised on the previously dicussed WV boundaries.
30th May 2005: 09UTC
The convection over Turkey has now increased. Some high reaching CBs with severe updraft are pictured inland as the white bright spots. Over Northern Romania the onset to another convective event is seen. On the flank of a WV dark stripe one isolated cell is observed.
30th May 2005: 10UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 11UTC
As the convection over Greece and Turkey has further developed, also the first sign of convection is seen over Central Europe. Ahead of the front overt Austria and Czech Republic and also further north into Poland first few cells are observed.
30th May 2005: 12UTC
The increase in number of cells and size ahead of the front over Central Europe is immediately noticeable. The cells develop on WV boundaries.
30th May 2005: 13UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 14UTC
Over Romania orographic lifting induced convection along the Carpathian Mountains (which contours can easily be recognised).
The MCS system over Czech Republic and Austria are merging forming a big MCS on the leading side of a front. Over Italy and Croatia several thunderstorms are observed. Also in Greece (especially along the coast) several isolated convective cells are seen.
30th May 2005: 15UTC
One huge MCS system now formed covering parts of Austria, the Czech Republic and parts of Poland. The MCS formed over the past few hours on the leading side of the N-S front over western Europe.
A very unusual feature can be seen over the supercell over Poland at 15 UTC whereby a plume of cloud appears to emanate from the MCS and streams away in a northerly direction.
Parts of Croatia, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria are also still covered by numerous convective cells.
Interesting is also the chain of convective cells which has formed over the border of White-Russia and the Ukrain and Russia. These probably developed as a cause of shear between the two dominant flows.
30th May 2005: 16UTC
As day almost ends in Turkey the level of convection of Turkey dies out as it appears more grey in the satellite image. Over the Balkan region and Central Europe several convective cells can still be observed. Most depicable in the image still remains the MCS system over Austria, Czech Republic and Poland.
30th May 2005: 17UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 18UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 19UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 20UTC
The development continues.
30th May 2005: 2045UTC
The MCS over Central Europe is now decreasing in size. On the eastflank on the WV boundary still some isolated cells are seen.
30th May 2005: 22UTC
Convection is further decaying.
30th May 2005: 23UTC
Convection is further decaying.
31st May 2005: 00UTC
Convection is further decaying.
