It seems as though the radar echoes currently skirting over parts of Kent
aren't reaching the ground. The rainfall is registering as quite heavy,
however, the 11Z 03882 (Herstmonceux) ascent reveals the culprit. A wedge of
dry air between about 600m and 2800m is causing the rainfall to evaporate.
Dew point depressions of 20degC are recorded around the 1000m level.

http://weather.uwyo.edu/cgi-bin/soun...Herstmon ceux

Webcams in the region earlier showed very shallow Cu below thick As, backed
up by the above ascent. Now they are showing the cloud lowering as layers
beneath 3000m moisten, in fact Manston has just reported -

METAR EGMH 291450Z 14004KT 9999 SHRA BKN060 13/11 Q1020 =
METAR EGMH 291420Z 13004KT 100V170 CAVOK 13/09 Q1021 =

Tourists arriving at "Manston International" may have been given the
wrong weather ideas by the captain given CAVOK ;-)


Joe