These photos were taken on the afternoon on 6 July 2008. After a dull morning with some rain it brightened up and I set off on a local cycle ride, perhaps a bit foolish as the sky was turning very black. I'd not got far when this happened... an absolute downpour with a couple of loud rumbles of thunder. Photo taken above Grasscroft in Saddleworth.
Having returned home to change my sodden clothes I headed back out again as it was now sunny but there were some impressive clouds building. These next 3 photos are taken from Hartshead Pike, Mossley - this one looking north.
The view west with storm clouds building over Greater Manchester.
A zoomed in view including Manchester city centre.
The tower on Hartshead Pike.
Back home the clouds rolled in again, this is from my back window in Mossley around 1800 to an evil looking sky
[photo underexposed for effect, though it had gone very dark - also amended to remove a power line which was in the way! ]
View from the front looking down the valley to Saddleworth. There was another heavy shower and one close flash of lightning with a few more distant rumbles of thunder.