What do you personally do when a Thunderstorm approaches?

creekbend · Mar 6, 2012

While listening to the local evening news today, the meteorologist pointed out these facts relating to thunderstorms in the State of North Carolina. (1) *There are an average of 500,000 strikes in an average year, resulting in around 9 to 12 strikes per square mile. (2) *From 2001 to 2010, North Carolina ranked 5th in the Nation for lightning fatalities. The report also stated (3) *If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning (4) *Lightning can strike up to 15 miles from a thunderstorm. Most of us, whether we are working in our yards, or tending to other tasks and chores on our property, have been faced with the decision of continuing working outside or waiting until the thunderstorm has passed. What steps do you personally take? Has your opinion changed in regards to your decision making after reading this post? The main reason for posting this was to help us all to realize the apparent danger and the possible consequences that may result by not adhering to Nature's warning signs. Please stay SAFE.

dusty3030 · Mar 6, 2012

I put up what I don't want wet go to my shop and get a cold beer out of the fridge.

herd · Mar 6, 2012

That's exactly what I do, unless I am somewhere o/t home. Mostly, I respect it, try to lay low in one way or another but I do not panic nor let it scare me into submission. And I have been within 5 feet of a lightning strike, so I know what the "blue/white heat looks like and have been very scared by it.

Just don't panic, especially when you have children around.

magicheater · Mar 6, 2012

creekbend said:
While listening to the local evening news today, the meteorologist pointed out these facts relating to thunderstorms in the State of North Carolina. (1) *There are an average of 500,000 strikes in an average year, resulting in around 9 to 12 strikes per square mile. (2) *From 2001 to 2010, North Carolina ranked 5th in the Nation for lightning fatalities. The report also stated (3) *If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning (4) *Lightning can strike up to 15 miles from a thunderstorm. Most of us, whether we are working in our yards, or tending to other tasks and chores on our property, have been faced with the decision of continuing working outside or waiting until the thunderstorm has passed. What steps do you personally take? Has your opinion changed in regards to your decision making after reading this post? The main reason for posting this was to help us all to realize the apparent danger and the possible consequences that may result by not adhering to Nature's warning signs. Please stay SAFE.

That is still only less than 1 strike on average per month, per square mile. I like to experience thunderstorms when they move through. As you allude to they can be very dangerous and noteworthy to take precautions when they are around. The intensity perhaps would influence the viewing vs. hiding factor. We get our share here in Wisconsin and I have been on both sides of the experience.

tcartwri · Mar 6, 2012

Grab a beer, jump in the hammock and watch the show.

bigtiller · Mar 6, 2012

I take a glass of scotch and a cup of coffee out to the garage, set up the lawn chair and watch the show.

Mrs. bigtiller is a Nervous Nellie. Her and the dogs run from window to window in a nervous fit, wondering if this is going to be the big one.

Egon · Mar 6, 2012

Me and a friend used to jump in a car and go to a site where we could see them better.

slowzuki · Mar 6, 2012

We have a nice view of them rolling in. I sit back and watch from inside so I don't get wet. If I'm up at the top of the hill, near a really tall tree or out in the middle of the lake I go find a new place to hang out.

/pine · Mar 7, 2012

Learning to respect and admire mother nature in all her forms...(to a lesser degree) is like admiring fine works of art...

Growing up on the West central coast of FL (lightning capital of US) I have seen my share of good boomers...
Also rode out my share of heavy duty storms well offshore...lightning strikes can often make "fire balls" that roll across the water... like any serious storm (on the high seas) it's something one has to see for themselves to realize and appreciate...

In the Summer...the air masses heat up in the center of the state causing a thermal lift which in turn causes what is called a "sea breeze" along the coast...where the moist,cooler air meets the thermal is where the "thunderheads" form...this can happen on a daily basis and when conditions remain you can just about set your watch by where the storms are...

...if you watch the development of a cell look at the top of the cloud...the higher in the atmosphere it grows the stronger the cell will become...many times cells will merge and feed off each other...

...watching the very top (binoculars make this much more evident) you will see the Cumulus actually growing both upward and also usually toward the source of the cooler air mass...the billowing action is sometimes very aggressive and forceful...hail is likely in these type of storms that can reach as high 45k' ( which will make any pilot in the area sit up and take notice)
The direction the cloud is growing is the general direction the cell is moving...if it reaches the jet stream it's top will be sheared off and will form the classic anvil shape...

Many times when a Cumulus is really turning it on...you can see "streamers" that will sprout off the top and sides of the forming head...(think of a curly contrail as it emerges from a an aircraft...only streaming more vertical)

If you see exactly where a lightning bolt strikes the Earth...and there is any silica in the soil it will form what is called a "fulgurite" which there is a good market for...

One of my favorite things about thunderstorms...is when they clear out just before sunset and the light spectrum is effected and everything takes on an amber glow...it can be almost magical at times...

powerpace · Mar 7, 2012

Back in 68'. (That is how all good Marine stories begin.) I was in Lakehurst NAS, NJ. Everytime there was a Thunderstorm anywhere close the base pool would be closed. My room was overlooking the chainlink fenced pool. Lighting struck the fence and snaked it's way most of the way around it. LOUD.

Presently during Thunderstorms I sit on my porch and watch the show.

I was camping near Mt. Jefferson, OR years ago. A storm came up Thunder and Lightening. Flash-Boom, no delay for about two hours. A little scary at the time.