A long time ago I was driving my truck listening to AM radio at night, between Chicago and St. Louis. I kept hearing sounds on the radio like ripping, or a zipper. The tone would change like something was under stress and was trying to get out. This happened on multiple trips. Then one night the ripping sounds on the radio started again and ended with a big lightning strike. I was driving through a electrically charged areas, and wouldn’t have known it, but for that old radio.
One time I was camping in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness. A huge thunderstorm blew over. You’re not supposed to get under trees when in a thunderstorm, but there was no place not under a tree, unless you swam out into the middle of the lake, which would be worse because you would have been the highest object in the lake. No choice but to ride it out…
I was working in the yard the other day. It was a nice day. Blue skies and a gentle breeze. Then I started hearing thunder. That was the end of working outside for the day. About 15 minutes later a squall came through.
I was helping a Girl Scout troop on their repelling tower. I thought they were taking flash pictures until I heard thunder. I saw lightning hit the next lake over and counted 5 seconds to the thunder. We sent everybody down, untied the descending ropes and threw them over the side. We pulled them into the shed and untangled them while a pop-up storm soaked everything else.
Of course, the first strike could be to you. I remember being on an overnight bike trip and getting ready to bed down. The sky had been overcast all afternoon – otherwise our only hint of lightning was a deafening BOOM that caused several people to scream involuntarily. Adventure is out there!
I’ve been near two lightning strikes, and they were within a few weeks of each other! The first was at work as I was looking out my window at the rain soaking the parking lot. A moving car was suddenly struck but because of being grounded, I suppose, it just kept going as if nothing had happened. The second hit the house next to ours, about 10 feet from where I was sleeping. It was one of the loudest sounds I have ever heard. It started a small fire in the attic next door.
My wife and grandson went out to watch a lightening storm on the patio recently, eating popcorn. I stayed in, I’m no fool. A strike and a boom down the street sent them running into the house splaying the popcorn on the ground. Now she watches how close lightening is on an app and my grandson foregoes his hot tubbing if it even looks stormy.
My wife and I were parked near a local ice cream stand today. Thunderstorms were within a mile. Watched as a couple walked away from their car with a small child to get a better look. I felt sorry for the kid, thinking this was natural selection in action. Fortunately nothing happened.
I don’t know about other areas of the continent, but in New England, if you can hear the thunder, there is danger. Take shelter.
Usually stay in the same RV park in Lancaster PA. Tried a new one once. Our space was cut into rock with not much room around it. Our RV is SMALL it is a converted Chevy Express van (only walking space is aisle – 2.5 ft wide and I am 5’1" and can ALMOST lie flat the length of it can sit on toilet bowl with feet on the bed…). As we were driving back there was a warning on the radio of the dangerous storm coming.
As we got to our space and husband had to back into it (without hitting rock around it) I got out of the RV to direct him as normal. The rain started. The lighting started. The wind started. And I was having trouble getting him into the space as I stood outside in it all. I wa starting to think we should just leave it as it was (and I do not give up easily) and run for the bathrooms, when he managed to get into the space enough. I ran inside.
We have electricity from battery (or generator) but cannot run the air conditioning on same – and it was hot – and could not open the windows or would be wet inside. Could not turn on TV to see what was going on as had to go out and hook the cable to do so.
It was the worst night we had in the RV and we have had two trips when the toilet started leaking into onto the floor. Lightning terribly scary. Luckily it was less than 45 minutes.
mddshubby2005 almost 4 years ago
A bolt from the blue!
dsTrekker Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Geezers can still run. We just need motivation.
baddawg1989 almost 4 years ago
As Graham Chapman said in Monty Python and the Holy Grail: RUN AWAY!!! :-)
pschearer Premium Member almost 4 years ago
Lightning can kill from many miles away. If you can hear thunder, you are in danger. (If I just saved your life, you’re welcome.)
Tyge Premium Member almost 4 years ago
That’ll hitch your giddy up!
admiree2 almost 4 years ago
Poor Janis. Not a good moment to be wearing white shorts but she does have a six foot lead on Arlo in the race to the door.
drivingfuriously Premium Member almost 4 years ago
A long time ago I was driving my truck listening to AM radio at night, between Chicago and St. Louis. I kept hearing sounds on the radio like ripping, or a zipper. The tone would change like something was under stress and was trying to get out. This happened on multiple trips. Then one night the ripping sounds on the radio started again and ended with a big lightning strike. I was driving through a electrically charged areas, and wouldn’t have known it, but for that old radio.
david_42 almost 4 years ago
Flash, Boom, done. Thunderstorms are brief around here.
trainnut1956 almost 4 years ago
One time I was camping in the Mt. Jefferson wilderness. A huge thunderstorm blew over. You’re not supposed to get under trees when in a thunderstorm, but there was no place not under a tree, unless you swam out into the middle of the lake, which would be worse because you would have been the highest object in the lake. No choice but to ride it out…
assrdood almost 4 years ago
My favorite entertainment – sitting on the porch with a beverage, enjoying nature’s fireworks.
Michael G. almost 4 years ago
Enlightening …
nosirrom almost 4 years ago
I was working in the yard the other day. It was a nice day. Blue skies and a gentle breeze. Then I started hearing thunder. That was the end of working outside for the day. About 15 minutes later a squall came through.
PoodleGroomer almost 4 years ago
I was helping a Girl Scout troop on their repelling tower. I thought they were taking flash pictures until I heard thunder. I saw lightning hit the next lake over and counted 5 seconds to the thunder. We sent everybody down, untied the descending ropes and threw them over the side. We pulled them into the shed and untangled them while a pop-up storm soaked everything else.
soapy1976 almost 4 years ago
That’s rappelling.
flagmichael almost 4 years ago
Of course, the first strike could be to you. I remember being on an overnight bike trip and getting ready to bed down. The sky had been overcast all afternoon – otherwise our only hint of lightning was a deafening BOOM that caused several people to scream involuntarily. Adventure is out there!
ChessPirate almost 4 years ago
I’ve been near two lightning strikes, and they were within a few weeks of each other! The first was at work as I was looking out my window at the rain soaking the parking lot. A moving car was suddenly struck but because of being grounded, I suppose, it just kept going as if nothing had happened. The second hit the house next to ours, about 10 feet from where I was sleeping. It was one of the loudest sounds I have ever heard. It started a small fire in the attic next door.
DCBakerEsq almost 4 years ago
The only thing I miss about Oklahoma. Oh, and Braums.
paranormal almost 4 years ago
When thunder roars, go indoors!!!
donwestonmysteries almost 4 years ago
My wife and grandson went out to watch a lightening storm on the patio recently, eating popcorn. I stayed in, I’m no fool. A strike and a boom down the street sent them running into the house splaying the popcorn on the ground. Now she watches how close lightening is on an app and my grandson foregoes his hot tubbing if it even looks stormy.
ElGato almost 4 years ago
Just a week ago lighting struck my cable connection and zapped out my TV. We were lucky that only the TV got wasted.
bucker39 Premium Member almost 4 years ago
When the crack, flash, and BOOM occur within milliseconds…too late.
Dr_Fogg almost 4 years ago
Record lightning bolthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/06/25/lightning-megaflash-world-record/+
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/06/26/More-than-100-killed-by-lightning-as-Indias-monsoon-storms-arrive-early/6541593173886/
Be smart and be safe
I’mStandingRightHere almost 4 years ago
My wife and I were parked near a local ice cream stand today. Thunderstorms were within a mile. Watched as a couple walked away from their car with a small child to get a better look. I felt sorry for the kid, thinking this was natural selection in action. Fortunately nothing happened.
I don’t know about other areas of the continent, but in New England, if you can hear the thunder, there is danger. Take shelter.
mafastore almost 4 years ago
Usually stay in the same RV park in Lancaster PA. Tried a new one once. Our space was cut into rock with not much room around it. Our RV is SMALL it is a converted Chevy Express van (only walking space is aisle – 2.5 ft wide and I am 5’1" and can ALMOST lie flat the length of it can sit on toilet bowl with feet on the bed…). As we were driving back there was a warning on the radio of the dangerous storm coming.
As we got to our space and husband had to back into it (without hitting rock around it) I got out of the RV to direct him as normal. The rain started. The lighting started. The wind started. And I was having trouble getting him into the space as I stood outside in it all. I wa starting to think we should just leave it as it was (and I do not give up easily) and run for the bathrooms, when he managed to get into the space enough. I ran inside.
We have electricity from battery (or generator) but cannot run the air conditioning on same – and it was hot – and could not open the windows or would be wet inside. Could not turn on TV to see what was going on as had to go out and hook the cable to do so.
It was the worst night we had in the RV and we have had two trips when the toilet started leaking into onto the floor. Lightning terribly scary. Luckily it was less than 45 minutes.