Latest news with #BenRich
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tactics, positioning, and strategy to be taught at chess summer school
A York teenager is inviting young players to learn to "beat their dads" at a chess summer school. Aaron Rich, 18, one of York's top players, will lead sessions at BrewYork off Walmgate on both August 19 and 26, open to participants aged eight to 15. The sessions, which Aaron will lead alongside his father Ben, will focus on tactics, positioning, and strategy. Currently competing in the British Championships in Liverpool, Aaron has a strong chess background, having represented England at under-16 and under-18 levels and led the Yorkshire junior team in the Chessmates International tournament. He also runs the term-time York Junior Club at Guppy's Enterprise Club. The summer school days will also include a rapidplay competition with prizes in the afternoons. The days run from 10am to 4.30pm and cost £25 per pupil (free for those in particular need). Registrations should be made by August 15 at the latest at or by emailing ben@
BBC News
03-08-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
What's the difference between summer and winter storms?
With summer in full swing and lots of fun things happening outdoors – like camping trips, park picnics and beach days – bad weather can sometimes get in the way. This week will see some unseasonal weather, with strong winds and heavy rain as Storm Floris rolls in. A storm like Floris would not be that unusual during the autumn or winter months but could have greater impacts during what actually makes a summer storm different from a winter one? Are August storms in the UK rare? Whether it's a sunny July or chilly December, storms usually start the same way – with something called low pressure. This is a type of weather system that brings clouds, rain, and wind. So storms can happen in any storms in August are not that year, Storm Lilian struck the UK on 23 August, just before the bank holiday weekend, closing stages at the Leeds music festival and cancelling flights at Heathrow Airport. Are summer storms worse? Even though winds are usually stronger in winter, summer storms can sometimes cause more Met Office - who monitor the UK's weather - may decide to issue a weather warning based on the potential impact of a storm rather than the strength of the storm itself. Speaking to Newsround, Ben Rich from BBC Weather explained that "in the summer, when more people are travelling and more events are going on outdoors, that will be taken into account when deciding whether to issue a warning – and whether that warning will be yellow, amber or red. "A storm that would cause only a little disruption in winter could cause much bigger problems in the summer months." Why winds are a bigger problem when trees have leaves Branches are more likely to break off, and trees are more likely to fall down in summer storms than in winter because in summer, trees are full of big, leafy branches. "The leaves on the tree offer more resistance to the wind, and so – a bit like a sail on a boat – the wind will blow against the tree and may cause damage," says Ben from BBC Weather, explaining how a tree will be pushed around more when it's in full leaf. In colder months, trees have fewer leaves, and wind can pass through bare branches more easily. How is Storm Floris different to thunderstorms we see in summer? Thunderstorms and sudden heavy rain are common in air holds more moisture, and as that warm air rises, carrying lots of water vapour with it, it cools down quickly – and that's when all that moisture turns into clouds and rain. If it rises fast enough, it can build big thunderclouds, called cumulonimbus clouds can cause heavy downpours, lightning, thunder, and even hail – sometimes all in a very short amount of Met Office says that this kind of storm is called convective weather, and it happens more often in the summer months because the ground gets hotter. But unlike Storm Floris, thunderstorms are much smaller and tend to happen over much smaller areas and aren't big enough to be named. "While warm weather causes thunderstorms in smaller, localised areas, Storm Floris is a much larger storm," says Ben from BBC Weather. "It is formed by an area of low pressure which is developing over the Atlantic because of a powerful jet stream – the flow of air high in the atmosphere – which is providing the energy for this spell of windy weather. "Some thunder and lightning is possible – but heavy rain and strong winds will be the main impacts."
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Exact time and date 'mini heatwave' will peak shown on weather maps
Warm weather conditions are expected across parts of the country this weekend with highs of 24C coming on Saturday, according the latest maps show - London is set to be the warmest city A mini heatwave is heading towards the UK this weekend, with warm temperatures expected across several areas of the country. The latest weather maps show the mercury will be in the mid-20Cs, with highs of 24C expected in London at 4pm on Saturday. Cornwall, Northern Ireland and parts of southern Scotland will enjoy 17C temperatures, while 18C temperatures are expected in Wales. Central and northern England will experience temperatures of around 20C - with colder conditions, between 13C and 14C, hitting northern areas of Scotland. According to WXCharts maps, temperatures at 6pm on Saturday will be higher than the seasonal average, with the warmest conditions hitting the capital. BBC Weather forecaster Ben Rich said temperatures could hit the mid-20Cs in the south of England at the end of the week. "For Friday many areas will see some dry weather and some spells of sunshine but it could well be that our next weather system starts to approach bringing some cloud and some rain in from the west," he said. "It could be a warm feeling day on Friday with temperatures of 17C to 24C. High pressure tries to hold on across the south and the south east, at the same time low pressure tries to return from the northwest. This gives quite a messy weather forecast for Saturday, there will be some showers or longer spells of rain especially up towards the north and west, further south and east a better chance that we will stay dry for much of the time and in the sunshine still feeling warm 16C to 24C." But during the week, temperatures won't be as warm, with the mercury only reaching 18C on Wednesday and Thursday, and 20C on Friday. Met Office Meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: "This week we could see temperatures push to the low 20s in the south, and at the end of the week we can see drier and more settled weather develop in southern England and Wales. From Sunday, June 1, the weather will continue to be changeable with spells of rain hitting the country and strong winds across the northwest, while the south can expect drier interludes, the Met Office said. The long-range forecast for the first 10 days of June reads: "Temperatures are expected to be around or a little above normal overall, but will be cooler in any prolonged periods of rainfall. Meanwhile, there is the possibility of some very warm or even hot conditions developing later in this period, especially in the south, and these bring with them the chance of thunderstorms." UK five-day weather forecast This Evening and Tonight: Rain largely clearing this evening, although a band of heavy showers with possible thunderstorms will affect Wales, the Midlands and East Anglia overnight. Elsewhere clear spells, with isolated showers in the far north and west. Patchy frost in the north. Wednesday: Early heavy showers in the south easing, then a day of sunny spells and well scattered lighter showers across the UK tomorrow. Less breezy, so feeling pleasant in the sunshine. Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Wet and rather windy weather moving east across the UK on Thursday, though some brighter breaks later. Some warm sunshine thereafter, though showers too. Small chance thunderstorms in southeast Saturday.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Exact date mini heatwave to hit UK as Caribbean jet stream to bring 25C blast
Many Brits suffered a bank holiday weekend washout but weather maps show we are soon set for temperatures to rise again into the mid-20Cs for some areas of the country Brits are set for another mini-heatwave with temperatures rising to 25C after a week of wet weather. It was a typically damp bank holiday weekend with a washout for many people around the country after a long spell of hot and dry weather where a high pressure system dominated. But while the mercury will dip for a few days, by the weekend we are set to see a return to balmy conditions and temperatures hitting the mid-20Cs in some parts. Maps from Ventusky are turning orange again by Saturday, May 31, especially for the southeast which will be warmest and these higher temperatures are expected to last into the start of next week. And a map from WXCharts shows the mercury hit 25C at 3pm on on Saturday. Met Office Meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: 'This week we could see temperatures push to the low 20s in the south, and at the end of the week we can see drier and more settled weather develop in southern England and Wales.' And the outlook from the weather agency for Thursday to Saturday reads: 'Further spells of rain are expected over the next few days, mainly in the north. Sunny spells and scattered showers in the south, and turning increasingly warm.' While BBC weather forecaster Ben Rich said that temperatures could hit the mid-20Cs in the south of England at the end of the week. 'For Friday many areas will see some dry weather and some spells of sunshine but it could well be that our next weather system starts to approach bringing some cloud and some rain in from the west,' he said 'It could be a warm feeling day on Friday with temperatures of 17C to 24C. High pressure tries to hold on across the south and the south east, at the same time low pressure tries to return from the northwest. "This gives quite a messy weather forecast for Saturday, there will be some showers or longer spells of rain especially up towards the north and east, further south and east a better chance that we will stay dry for much of the time and in the sunshine still feeling warm 16C to 24C.' And a long term Met Office forecast hints of the possibility of "hot conditions" on its outlook from May 31 to June 9. It adds: "With time the signs are that systems will increasingly track to the northwest of the country, with the south probably starting to see longer, drier interludes while the northwest continues to see more in the way of rain and at times strong winds. "Temperatures are expected to be around normal overall, but will be cooler in any prolonged periods of rainfall. Meanwhile there is the possibility of some very warm, perhaps hot conditions developing, especially in the south and these bring with them the chance of thunderstorms."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Driver's bizarre number plate prompts $933 fine warning: 'Not legal'
Most Aussie drivers do their best to avoid being pulled over, but some choices on the road are bound to attract the wrong kind of attention. That was the case in Adelaide this week when a Toyota driver was spotted with a bold, customised number plate simply reading "PRIVATE," above smaller text "Special Trust Security." A keen-eyed local photographed the strange-looking plates and posted images online, asking "what the F are these? Surely [they're] not legal?". People from all around the country weighed in, with one person's response in particular generating a lot of traction. "They're plates which will guarantee SAPOL will pull them over at their first opportunity," they wrote. Another suggested the plates belong to a member of a so-called "sovereign citizen" movement — a growing group of fringe conspiracists, who believe laws don't apply to them and can be opted out of. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesman for SAPOL confirmed the plates in question are highly illegal, and in fact, can attract an on-the-spot fine of $933. "These plates appear fake and are not plates that have been issued by SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport," he told Yahoo. People online criticised the driver's decision to boldly break the law. "It's the best way to show off your dreadful understanding [of the law] to an already disinterested person," one person said. "You found a sovereign citizen in the wild," another commented. "Those are the 'please pull me over plates', otherwise known as sovereign citizen plates," joked a third. It's not the first time the scenario has emerged on Australian roads. A photo, captured in Queensland in 2023, earlier showed the rear of a Holden with a plate that features the text "Private Property Non-Commercial, Living Woman, Terra Australia Incognito", along with an incorrect claim that removing the plate "incurs a $50,000 fine". Bizarrely, it also contained a legitimate registration number in extremely small text. Some followers of the sovereign citizen movement can actually pose a serious threat. In 2010, a father-son team in the US murdered two police officers with an assault rifle after being pulled over. In NSW in recent times, a police officer was forced to smash a car window after a "sovereign citizen" refused to get out of her vehicle and claimed she was not in the officer's jurisdiction. Number plate with 'naughty' hidden message spotted Dodgy detail in Aussie's number plate could attract $900 fine Aussies lose it over motorist's 'sovereign citizen' licence plate Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Ben Rich, co-director of Curtin University's Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), said police and intelligence agencies around the nation are concerned about the "sovereign citizen" movement. "The injection of increasingly extremist American ideas reflecting that country's own internal dysfunctions has caused the overall movement to take a darker turn over the past decade," Dr Rich earlier said. "The Covid-19 lockdowns were a real catalyst for Sov-Cit political mobilisation in Australia, and we saw many of them turning out in anti-lockdown and anti-government protests in unprecedented numbers with their distinctive iconography." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
