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We begin the April 2017 issue with Matthew Lewis’ and Nick Silkstone’s paper Improvements in nowcasting capability: analysis of three structurally distinct severe thunderstorms across northern England on 1 July 2015’ on p. 91. They examine the new ways in which we can use Doppler radar data to track not only the motion of thunderstorms, but also the vertical motions within them. Along with the detection of type of hydrometeor, we are also given an in-depth examination of the weather that developed on what was already an unusual July day. Following our usual seasonal summary on p. 101, looking back at last winter, we continue the examination of cultural differences in the perception of snow and ice in both East and West in Icy hell - a history of ice and snow - part 2’ by Hisami Nakamura and Julyan Cartwright on p. 102. The effects of cold weather and cool climatic periods in literature are clearly described, not least in the Romantic period of Western literature. Continuing the literate theme, on p. 107 we move to the First World War in Haboobs, dust spouts and Lawrence of Arabia’ by Gabriel Rooney. T.E. Lawrence’s descriptions of linked facets of winter desert weather - notably that of north Africa and the Arabian peninsula - are both accurate and fascinating. They also provided an inspiring backdrop to his book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.