Very, very squally tonight...

Our cats are huddled together. All three of them. And it's weird.

Indeed, I've never seen them like this. They're normally somewhat sociable, but never nestled together quite like this. It's almost as if they've adopted a defensive huddle in anticipation of an unseen threat.

As I write, I can hear ominous crashing and banging outside as the wind howls; perhaps a fence coming down nearby. It's a sound I've grown accustomed to lately: I spent an hour yesterday repairing one in rather makeshift fashion, albeit all-too-aware that any longevity of this patched-up structure against winds gusting over 50 mph is unlikely.

And tonight, I'm expecting the worse.

We have a very active cold front - an ANA-front to give it the correct terminology - crossing eastwards. It will come through our region between about 11pm to 2am, accompanied by some very squally winds; heavy rain and perhaps a small tornado or two. It's a ripe scenario for the latter, as I mentioned on Points West and local radio this morning. 

Met Office rainfall radar at 9pm on Tues, 24 November, 2009. Note the bright, linear echoes across Wales and into the approaches of the Bristol Channel. These line convection elements - moving eastwards - will give very squally winds and could produce a small, short-lived tornado somewhere along their passage.

Even in the absence of any tornado - and I emphasise they are rare, short-lived and very localised - with winds expected to gust at over 50mph, I fear my makeshift fence repairs will lie in tatters by the time I set off for work in the morning at 03.40hrs.

Others across the West Country and beyond will doubtless experience similar damage tonight and judging by the unusual behaviour of our cats, they evidently believe likewise. Natural intuition, I assume.

So there's another loud crashing sound outside. Great. More fence repairs loom? One of the cats meeaows almost painfully; the wind howls like something out of Wuthering Heights... and I'm trying to get to sleep in 30 minutes...