DID YOU KNOW YOUR TOILET CAN REACT TO THE WEATHER? YES, REALLY! Good morning, everyone! Now, this is probably going to be one of the strangest weather posts I've written for KWT, but bear with me because there's actually some fascinating science behind it! Did you know that changes in atmospheric pressure can sometimes affect the water level in your toilet? And during stormy weather, you might even notice little ripples appearing on the surface! Yes, we're talking about toilet weather forecasting this morning! SO, HOW DOES IT WORK? When a deep area of low pressure moves across Cornwall, the atmospheric pressure around us drops. Air pressure is simply the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on everything around us, including water. In theory, changes in atmospheric pressure can influence water levels, especially where water is connected to enclosed air spaces or drainage systems. However, here's the interesting bit! Your toilet is connected to a network of pipes and drains, and changes in air pressure within those pipes can sometimes cause the water in the bowl to move slightly. During stormy weather, strong winds blowing across roof vents can also create pressure differences in the drainage system. This can occasionally cause the water to ripple, wobble or even change level a little! BUT DOES LOW PRESSURE ALWAYS MAKE TOILET WATER RISE? Not necessarily! Although falling atmospheric pressure can contribute to pressure differences, it doesn't automatically make toilet water rise, and high pressure doesn't always make it fall. In most homes, the water level is controlled by the shape of the toilet's internal trap, and any noticeable movement is more likely to involve pressure changes within the plumbing system. And here's another fascinating fact! During heavy rainfall, drainage systems can become overloaded, which may also affect water levels or cause gurgling in some toilets. So if you've noticed your toilet water behaving strangely during one of our recent Atlantic storms, there could actually be a scientific explanation! AND WHAT ABOUT THOSE LITTLE WAVES? Yes, tiny ripples can sometimes appear on the surface if air pressure fluctuates inside the drainage pipes or vibrations travel through the plumbing. But before anyone starts blaming Storm Austen for turning their toilet into Fistral Beach, remember that flushing elsewhere in the house or plumbing issues can produce similar effects! If your toilet regularly gurgles, the water level changes dramatically, or wastewater starts backing up, that's something to get checked rather than putting it down to the weather. SO THERE YOU HAVE IT! We've covered thunderstorms, jet streams, hurricanes, atmospheric pressure and now we've officially reached toilet meteorology! At this rate, I'll be installing a weather station next to the loo at KWT HQ! And if you happen to notice tiny waves in your toilet during the next storm, please don't get the surfboard out. That's definitely one location Oceanic-Wave won't be adding to its daily surf reports! Have a fantastic morning, everyone, and remember, weather science can turn up in the strangest places! Kind regards, KWT Dave From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered apparently even the bathroom!

🎃👻 HALLOWEEN WEATHER OUTLOOK: WILL IT BE A TRICK OR A TREAT? 🦇🌫️ With Halloween creeping ever closer, it's time to dust off those broomsticks, wake up the skeletons and see what Mother Nature has brewing in her weather cauldron! Will Cornwall be haunted by ghostly rain, battered by spooky winds, or will the weather gods give us a little Halloween treat? Well, looking at the latest weather models, Halloween is actually looking rather promising at the moment! And after all the wild weather we've had recently, that's certainly a treat rather than a trick! An area of high pressure looks set to build towards the end of the week, which should help calm things down across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The winds are expected to become much lighter, generally coming from a southeasterly direction, so hopefully no witches getting blown off their broomsticks this year! 🧹 But here's where things could get a little spooky! As Halloween evening arrives, temperatures are likely to fall, bringing a rather chilly feel for anyone heading out trick-or-treating. And with lighter winds, there's also the possibility of patchy mist and fog developing, creating that perfect eerie Halloween atmosphere! Imagine the mist slowly creeping across the Cornish countryside, shadows appearing through the fog and the occasional strange noise coming from the bushes... Don't panic, it's probably just someone looking for their missing pumpkin! 🎃 Of course, we're still several days away, and the weather models could change their minds faster than a ghost disappearing through a wall! For now, though, Halloween looks more like a weather treat than a weather trick, but we'll continue keeping a close eye on the latest charts here at KWT HQ. 🐾 Smudge & Gus's Spooky Weather Verdict: Smudge says the mist sounds perfect for a spooky Halloween adventure, while Gus says he's not going anywhere unless the trick-or-treaters are handing out Dreamies! Kind regards, KWT Dave. From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered! Stay #WeatherAware and have a spooktacular week! 👻

Well, looking at the latest temperatures recorded across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly this morning, it's actually feeling rather mild for late October! Temperatures are currently sitting between 13°C and 16°C, so certainly not a chilly start to the day! However, the weather isn't completely behaving itself! There's still some patchy light rain drifting around parts of Cornwall, along with a few areas of mist and fog, especially where the air is particularly moist. Looking at the latest Meteosat satellite imagery, it appears Cornwall is playing a rather interesting game of hide-and-seek with the sunshine this morning! There's plenty of cloud around, with the sun trying its hardest to make an appearance. Unfortunately, the clouds seem determined to win this particular game! The mild temperatures are being helped along by the relatively warm, moisture-laden air coming in from the Atlantic. If you're heading out this morning, just be aware that visibility could be reduced in some of those mist and fog patches. So, a mild but rather grey and damp start for some of us. At least we haven't needed to scrape ice off the car windscreens! Have a lovely Monday, everyone, and keep an eye on the skies! Kind regards, KWT Dave From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered!

⚠️ YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR WIND ⚠️ Monday 3:00pm until Tuesday 3:00am Good morning everyone, Well, here we go again! Just when we thought the atmosphere might give us a little breather, Mother Nature has decided Cornwall hasn't had quite enough wind and rain! The Met Office has now issued a Yellow Weather Warning for strong winds, and we're pleased to see that once again, KWT had already highlighted the potential for disruptive weather with our own weather advisory. 👀 We've been keeping a very close eye on this developing low-pressure system, and it's always reassuring when our forecasts and concerns are reflected in the official warnings. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT? South to south-westerly winds will strengthen from the west during Monday afternoon and evening, with gusts reaching 45–50 mph inland and potentially 60–70+ mph along exposed coastlines and higher ground. And unfortunately, the wind won't be arriving alone! Heavy rain at times will make travelling conditions rather unpleasant, especially on exposed roads. ⚠️ FURTHER DISRUPTION IS POSSIBLE After the battering Cornwall has already taken from Storms Austen and Boelo, some trees, branches and structures may already be weakened. This means we could see further fallen trees, flying debris, travel disruption and additional power cuts. Those still dealing with damage or power problems from the weekend certainly don't need another round! The good news is that winds should gradually ease from the west during the early hours of Tuesday morning. Here at KWT, we'll continue monitoring the latest weather charts, radar and wind observations throughout the day. Please take extra care, secure any loose garden furniture and avoid unnecessary risks near exposed coastlines. And if anyone knows where the switch is to turn down the Atlantic wind machine, could you please let us know? It's getting a little ridiculous now! Stay safe, everyone. Kind regards, KWT Dave Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️

CORNWALL RESERVOIR LEVELS ALL THIS RAIN, SO WHY ARE THEY STILL SO LOW? Good morning everyone! Well, it's that time again when we take a look at the water levels in two of Cornwall's major reservoirs, and unfortunately, the figures are still rather concerning! After all the rain we've had over the last few days, including the heavy downpours brought by Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, you might be thinking our reservoirs must be filling up nicely by now! Sadly, it's not quite that simple! COLLIFORD RESERVOIR 31.6% FULL Cornwall's largest reservoir is sitting at just 31.6% of its capacity, and levels have continued to fall. STITHIANS RESERVOIR JUST 19% FULL! Now this one is particularly concerning. Stithians is sitting at just 19% of its capacity, meaning it's less than one-fifth full! "BUT DAVE, WE'VE HAD LOADS OF RAIN! SURELY THEY SHOULD BE FULL BY NOW?" We get asked this quite a lot, especially after a couple of days of torrential rain! Unfortunately, reservoirs don't work quite like filling up the bath at home. You can't just turn on the tap, wait twenty minutes and shout, "That'll do!" When heavy rain falls onto very dry ground, some of it soaks into the soil, some runs into rivers and streams, and some eventually makes its way into our reservoirs. But here's the important bit. A few days of heavy rain cannot make up for months of below-average rainfall and depleted water supplies. We need prolonged, widespread rainfall over the coming weeks and months to help restore soil moisture, river flows and reservoir storage. And while heavy rainfall can produce a temporary increase in reservoir inflows, not every drop that falls across Cornwall ends up in Colliford or Stithians! In fact, some of the rain we've experienced recently has simply caused surface water flooding and swollen rivers before flowing out towards the sea. It's also worth remembering that water continues to be used every single day by homes, businesses and other customers. So yes, the rain is welcome from a water resources point of view, but we need a sustained recovery rather than just a couple of very wet days. AND BEFORE ANYONE ASKS... No, KWT doesn't work for South West Water! And no, we don't work for the government either! We're a small independent team of weather-loving volunteers who simply share weather information, reservoir figures and other useful updates with our communities. We're not responsible for managing the reservoirs, setting water restrictions or deciding what happens to your water bills! If we were in charge of the weather, we'd probably arrange gentle overnight rain for the reservoirs and lovely sunshine during the day! Although knowing Cornwall, someone would still complain about the forecast! THE BIG PICTURE The good news is that we're heading into the wetter part of the year, when reservoir levels would normally begin their seasonal recovery. However, how quickly they recover will depend on rainfall over the coming months, how much water reaches each reservoir and how much is being used. We'll continue keeping an eye on the figures and sharing updates as they become available. And remember, heavy rain doesn't automatically mean the drought is over! Have a lovely morning everyone, and thank you as always for your continued support. Kind regards, KWT Dave From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered! #KernowWeatherTeam #Cornwall #CollifordReservoir #StithiansReservoir #CornwallWeather #WaterLevels

⚠️ YELLOW WEATHER WARNING FOR HEAVY RAIN STORM BOELO ⚠️ Saturday 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM Well, here we go again! Just when you thought Cornwall couldn't possibly get any wetter, Storm Boelo has decided we haven't had quite enough rain yet! The Met Office have now issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain, and we're rather pleased that once again, KWT had already highlighted the risk with our own weather advisory! See, we're not always far wrong! Of course, weather forecasting is never an exact science, but this is precisely why we keep such a close eye on developing weather systems and issue early advisories when we see the potential for disruption. SO, HOW MUCH RAIN ARE WE EXPECTING? The Met Office are forecasting widespread rainfall totals of around 25–30 mm across the warning area, with some locations, particularly higher ground, potentially receiving 50–60 mm. And here's the important part: some places could receive a substantial amount of that rainfall in just six hours! That's quite a lot of water falling in a relatively short period, especially considering how much rain we've already experienced over the last couple of days. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Heavy rain associated with Storm Boelo will continue affecting Cornwall through the day, bringing the risk of standing water, surface water flooding and difficult driving conditions. During the evening, the rain may ease for a while, giving us a little breather. But don't be fooled! Another intense band of heavy rain is expected to move in from the west, bringing a further spell of very wet weather before the system finally clears eastwards. Once that clears, we should see improving conditions overnight, with clearer skies developing, although a few scattered showers will remain possible. PLEASE TAKE EXTRA CARE With already wet roads, further heavy rainfall could quickly lead to large puddles, spray and localised flooding, particularly on low-lying roads and known flooding hotspots. Please slow down when driving, allow extra time for journeys and never attempt to drive through floodwater. And if your garden is starting to resemble a duck pond, I wouldn't recommend introducing actual ducks just yet! A QUICK WORD FROM KWT We're pleased that our earlier weather advisory highlighted the developing risk before this official warning was issued. That's exactly what we try to do here at KWT: give you an early heads-up so you have time to prepare. We don't issue advisories to frighten anyone. We do it because we care about keeping our communities informed and safe. We'll continue monitoring Storm Boelo throughout the day and bring you further updates if anything changes. Stay safe, stay dry if you can, and perhaps keep those wellies handy! Kind regards, KWT Dave.. Stay #WeatherAware From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered!

111mph been reported at Padstow

Been a bit spicy here in Cornwall

Oh hello Storm Austin

Well, here we go again! The Met Office have just named Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the 2026/27 season, with another spell of potentially disruptive weather expected on Saturday! The strongest winds are forecast across Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England, but Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly won't escape completely! We're still looking at southwesterly winds gusting 20–50+ mph, along with plenty of rain throughout Saturday, potentially heavy and persistent at times. And I'm rather glad we issued our KWT Weather Advisory earlier this morning, before the storm was named! It's always good to see our concerns being taken seriously as the forecast develops. With Storm Austen arriving first on Friday, it's certainly turning into a very busy few days at KWT HQ! We'll continue keeping a close eye on developments. Kind regards, KWT Dave 🌦️ Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️

🟠 AMBER WEATHER WARNING FOR WIND –STORM AUSTEN 🟠 FRIDAY 23RD OCTOBER 3AM UNTIL 10AM Good morning everyone, Well, here we go! We've been keeping a very close eye on this developing Atlantic storm for several days here at KWT HQ, and now the Met Office has officially issued an AMBER WEATHER WARNING FOR WIND for Friday morning! And I must admit, I'm rather pleased we started issuing our own KWT weather watches earlier this week, when the weather models first began showing the potential for something rather nasty heading our way! Although I was hoping Mother Nature might have decided to calm things down a little, it appears she's got other ideas! THE LATEST MET OFFICE WARNING The Met Office has issued an Amber Weather Warning for wind, covering Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and parts of Devon and Plymouth, between 3am and 10am on Friday Storm Austen is expected to bring a spell of very strong northwesterly winds, with gusts potentially reaching 60–70 mph quite widely, and possibly around 80 mph on some exposed headlands and even 90+mph is possible Now, winds of that strength are certainly not something to take lightly, especially when you combine them with spells of heavy rain. WHY COULD THE WINDS BECOME SO STRONG? Storm Austen is developing over the Atlantic Ocean and is being helped along by a powerful jet stream high above us. As the low-pressure system deepens, the difference in atmospheric pressure across the storm increases. This causes the isobars on our weather charts to become tightly packed together. And as many of you know from our weather lessons, the closer the isobars, the stronger the winds can become! It's a bit like Mother Nature putting her foot down on the accelerator, except this time we'd rather she found the brake pedal! The precise track and intensity of the storm will determine where the strongest gusts occur, so not every town and village will experience the same wind speeds. WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR CORNWALL? Friday morning could be particularly difficult, especially for those travelling to work or taking children to school. There is the potential for fallen trees and branches, flying debris, damage to buildings and roof tiles, power cuts and disruption to road, rail and ferry services. Along our coastline, very large waves and dangerous sea conditions could also develop, particularly around exposed north and west-facing coastal areas. Please don't be tempted to head down to the harbour walls or exposed coastal paths to watch the waves. These conditions can become dangerous very quickly. A LITTLE ADVICE FROM KWT HQ If you have garden furniture, bins, trampolines or anything else that might fancy an unscheduled trip down the road, now would be a good time to make sure everything is secure! The last thing you want on Friday morning is to discover your wheelie bin has decided to move in with the neighbours! It would also be sensible to charge your phones, have a torch handy and check travel arrangements before heading out. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 10AM? Although the Amber Warning expires at 10am, that doesn't mean the wind will suddenly switch off! Friday is expected to remain windy, with gusts gradually easing as Storm Austen moves away. A wider Yellow Wind Warning also remains in force until 2pm. So please don't assume everything will be back to normal the moment the Amber Warning ends. A FINAL WORD FROM ME We've been watching this system closely for several days, comparing the GFS, ECMWF and other weather guidance as the threat developed. And this is exactly why we issue our KWT weather watches in advance. Not to frighten anyone, but to give people an early indication of potentially disruptive weather and time to prepare. Of course, weather forecasting isn't an exact science, and storms can still change their track or intensity. But with an Amber Warning now issued, this is something we all need to take seriously.

Good morning everyone! Well, what a start to Wednesday morning across Cornwall! The wind has certainly turned up for work early today, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few wheelie bins have already been caught speeding down the road! It's a rather wild and blustery start across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with strong to gale-force gusts in exposed locations, along with a good number of showers dotted around the county. Some of these showers are quite heavy too, so it's a case of sunshine one minute, rain the next, and trying to hold onto your hat in between! SOME IMPRESSIVE WIND GUSTS THIS MORNING! NCI Padstow: Maximum gust of 63 mph at 6:00am. NCI Gwennap Head, West Cornwall: A whopping 72 mph! Other weather stations across Cornwall: Reporting gusts generally between 30–65 mph, depending on location and exposure. These are certainly some impressive gusts, especially for those exposed coastal locations. And this is exactly why we issued our own KWT Weather Advisory ahead of these conditions. We could see the potential for some very strong gusts in the weather models, and this morning the observations are showing just how lively things have become! Please take extra care if you're heading out this morning, especially on exposed roads, bridges, coastal routes and higher ground. Watch out for flying debris, fallen branches and, of course, those runaway wheelie bins! AND WHAT ABOUT STORM AUSTEN? We're continuing to keep a very close eye on Storm Austen and its potential impacts later this week. There is still some uncertainty surrounding the exact track, intensity and where the strongest winds will occur. It's certainly going to be another busy day here at KWT HQ, with plenty of weather charts, radar images and observations to keep an eye on. More updates coming soon on Storm Austen, so keep following KWT for the latest information. Stay safe out there, everyone, and if you see your wheelie bin heading towards Devon, it's probably best to let it go! Kind regards, KWT Dave. From moor to shore, we've got Cornwall covered.