Weather heroes DIY activity

The Royal Charter Gale in October 1859 was the most severe storm to hit the Irish Sea during the 19th Century, taking 800 lives. As a result the national storm warning system was born, later becoming the Shipping Forecast.

These rare clouds form a billowing wave pattern caused by strong vertical shear between two air streams, with winds blowing faster at the upper level.

A heat wave affected most of the UK from 3 to 23 July 2013, making this the warmest and sunniest July for the UK as a whole since 2006, and the third warmest on record.