FUN WEATHER FACTS
The mighty Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over thousands of years - and all that water came from the clouds!
WATER'S POWER
During its lifetime, a single hurricane can release as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs.
HURRICANE ENERGY
Supercell thunderstorms can produce tornadoes - and cloud tops soaring into the stratosphere, over 70,000 ft high.
SUPERCELL GIANTS
PASSIONATE ABOUT
DEMYSTIFYING WEATHER
WEATHER ROADSHOW
I’ve launched a Weather Roadshow - a live presentation I host regularly at venues across Worcestershire. These talks are designed to help people connect with the science and beauty of the weather in an engaging, down-to-earth way. I’m passionate about demystifying weather and climate, cutting through the noise with a grounded, data-driven approach. I also explore historical weather events, showing that extreme weather is far from new.
Everyone is welcome - whether you're a weather enthusiast or just curious about the skies above.
There's no need to book, but if you have any questions prior to the presentation please feel free to send an email!
ENJOY THE WEATHER, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU!
HOW IT ALL STARTED
Welcome!
I'm Ian Pickering, and I live in the beautiful county of Worcestershire, a place I’ve called home all my life. Nestled between the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds, with the Severn, Avon, and Teme rivers flowing through it, this county offers a stunning natural backdrop - and no shortage of interesting weather!
My passion for weather began back in 1976 when I was just 7 years old. That unforgettable year brought not only a famous heatwave and drought, but also two powerful storms that sparked a lifelong fascination. I’ve been tracking weather events ever since - recording daily data for decades, writing regular forecasts for the Cotswold & Vale Magazine, and even sharing my predictions live on local radio.
Over the years, my interest has taken me far and wide, including storm chasing in Tornado Alley in the USA. I’ve also launched a Weather Roadshow - a presentation I take to groups and events across the region, helping people connect with the science and beauty of the weather around them.
I’m particularly passionate about demystifying weather and climate, offering a grounded, data-driven perspective in a world full of noise and misinformation. I also love diving into historical weather events, proving that extreme weather is far from new.
New Update
The next Weather Roadshow is in Worcestershire. Click the Roadshow tab to find out more.
52º WEATHER
With Ian Pickering
Latest Articles
The UK is actually furthest from the sun during summer - about 94.5 million miles away!
EARTH'S ORBIT QUIRK
UK’s heaviest 30-min rainfall: 80 mm in Dumfriesshire, 1953. World’s heaviest 1-min rainfall: 1.3 inches in Maryland, USA.
RAINFALL RECORDS
The average fluffy cumulus cloud weighs about 500 tons!
HEAVY CLOUDS
The “Fata Morgana” mirage can hide ships at sea. Some scientists believe it made the Titanic’s iceberg harder to spot.
MIRAGE MYSTERY
EF5 tornado winds can exceed 300 mph.
TORNADO FURY
Niseko, Japan, sees a staggering 50 feet of snow per year - the snowiest place on Earth!
SNOW CAPITAL
Commonwealth Bay, Antarctica, is the windiest place on Earth - with katabatic winds often over 150 mph.
WINDIEST SPOT
Thanks to the Coriolis effect (caused by the Earth’s spin), weather systems rotate - and here in the UK, it’s also why our prevailing winds usually blow in from the west.
CORIOLIS EFFECT
Britain has hit both 40°C (104°F) and –27.2°C (–16.9°F) - surprisingly dramatic swings!
UK EXTREMES
Each year, storms carry 2 billion tonnes of sand and dust from North Africa and the Middle East.
SAND & DUST
A lightning bolt can reach 50,000°F - five times hotter than the surface of the Sun.
LIGHTNING HEAT
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