Saturday saw a freak thunderstorm pass through the Manchester area dumping a huge amount of hail which covered the area. The M60 was affected by the conditions which covered the motorway as well as surrounding suburbs.

I took a few snaps:

They aren't the greatest of images but give you an idea of the depth. This happened at around 3pm, when I left work at 6pm there were still drifts of hail a few inches deep in places. Quite something it was to watch the storm pass over and dump this much. It was like snow had fallen.

Youtube video, again not great quality but did pick up some thunder and also you get a vague idea of the ferocity of hail.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teVySndgqNs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqyIvUArDPE

I was caught in this walking close to Manchester City Centre. There was a very close CG strike at one point that made me jump out of my skin! I think this was the second of a couple of storms that passed through the area.

Wow! That was quite a hailstorm

Yes, the first storm passed by to the north of Altrincham but you could see it over Manchester from where I work high up. The second was this one which had direct impact with some loud thunder, lightning wasn't great but it was pretty dark.

A third I think passed by but not over heard as well. Was an impressive day with great cloud scapes.

Incidentally thats a few Saturdays now where there have been storms in the area. 

Good pic there Rob , I love intense storms like that

Nice to see the white stuff eve if it is hail..The rail tracks show up well.

Astonishing!

It was like that in many parts of the North West on Saturday. I dropped my missus and eldest daughter off at the Trafford Centre around noon. We set off from 'Tellins in glorious sunshine and even approaching the Eccles Interchange the sun was still out - but the sky in front was jet black. As we joined the M60, the heavens opened - but it was dry again about a mile further on at the Traff. We hit the same torrential rain/hail downpour on the way back, then back into the dry.

But the cloud had built quickly westwards, and soon after bombarded St Helens, leaving similar sights to those on the Altrincham pics. Superb weather

I used to live in Altrincham. Pics brought back a few memories...

I live just round the corner, and it was absolutely terrifying.

When I went outside at the station it felt more like mid jan than early nov!!

The hailstones were quite large, around the size of marbles and in places the accumulation was well over and inch thick. Our weather sure is crazy!