thunderstorms!!

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has yr TV ever exploded? how close has the lightning been?

― mark s, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

also TS: ball lightning vs sprites!!

― mark s, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The TV hasn't exploded, but I've been near enough to a lightning blast to get skeered -- and even that was a bit of distance away. Straight up bolts over heat lightning, please -- what good is a thunderstorm without thunder?

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

When I was a little nippa, my great grandma used to to try and put all the cutlery in the cupboard under stairs whenever a thunderstorm came nearby because she was afraid that it would attract lightning and cause the house to be blown up. She was obv. years ahead of her time because only now are scientists discovering the amazing non- conducive properties of our cuboard under the stairs.

― Steve.n., Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Hanging out with a 4-year old boy genius yesterday, he uttered the word "thormstunders" which I thought was the best new word I'd heard in ages.

― Tim, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

In upstate NY, we lived on top of a ridge, and were surrounded by three incredibly tall maples. We were a lightening magnet. Storms would pass overhead all the time, and the TV would start buzzing and the phones would go funny. Then we had roofers come and check out the roofs, and they said "Man, your lightning rods are FRIED, you better get them replaced!" So we must have been hit several times and not known it.

Quite a bad storm passing through Hackney right now. Yuck.

― kate, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Mark S: I presume you posted this because of what's happening *right now* over certain bits of London. I don't know if I've ever seen it as dark as this at 2:40.

I'm not sure what precautions you're supposed to take, if any. Wandering around the garden with a pair of binaural mics probably doesn't count.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

heard horror stories on the tivo list of how not only someone's tv exploded but everything before the tv also melted down - the tivo, video recorder, dvd player...

"Damage list.

32" widescreen tv (still works but only one of 3 scarts works and the ariel doesnt work either) DVD Player (still plays but no sound and picture has interference) PS2 (doesn't do anything) Bedroom 24" widescreen (doesnt do anything only had it 2 weeks!) Bedroom VCR (doesnt do anything)

And sadly.....MY TIVO (green light comes on but can't hear the hard drive spinning up, no picture/sound, no response to remote)"

eek!

and have also heard tales of how it's not just the tv aerial that's the problem these days but the phone connection - lightning hits the wires and destroys modems and everything attached...

makes me want to run out and give money to belkin for a surge protector...

andy

― koogydelbbog, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll be okay coz I have my DM's on. Thunder's not so bad here.

― jel --, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

no thunder in cambrideg (england yay) but its raining and i only have a jumper and a tewnty minute walk - damn aug and its shit weather - where is the sun

― james, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

This week, I've been a few places in London where the thunder has been loud enough to rattle the plates, but thankfully, I've never been hit.

Mind you, the way my luck occasionally goes, I should wear boots with rubber soles;>

― Nichole Graham, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone up for a round of golf right now?

― Jeff W, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

As frequent Mention is made in the News Papers from Europe, of the Success of the Philadelphia Experiment for drawing the Electric Fire from Clouds by Means of pointed Rods of Iron erected on high Buildings, etc. it may be agreeable to the Curious to be inform'd, that the same Experiment has succeeded in Philadelphia, tho' made in a different and more easy Manner, which any one may try, as follows.

Make a small Cross of two light strips of Cedar, the Arms so long as to reach to the four Corners of a large thin Silk Handkerchief when extended; tie the Corners of the Handkerchief to the Extremities of the Cross, so you have the Body of a Kite; which being properly accommodated with a Tail, Loop and String, will rise in the Air, like those made of Paper; but this being of Silk is fitter to bear the Wet and Wind of a Thunder Gust without tearing. To the Top of the upright Stick of the Cross is to be fixed a very sharp pointed Wire, rising a Foot or more above the Wood. To the End of the Twine, next to the Hand, is to be tied a silk Ribbon, and where the Twine and the silk join, a Key may be fastened. This Kite is to be raised when a Thunder Gust appears to be coming on, and the Person who holds the String must stand within a Door, or Window, or under some Cover, so that the Silk Ribbon may not be wet; and Care must be taken that the Silk Ribbon may not touch the Frame of the Door or Window. As soon as any of the Thunder Clouds come over the Kite, the pointed Wire will draw the Electric Fire from them, and the Kite, with all the Twine will be electrified, and the loose Filaments of the Twine will stand out every Way, and be attracted by an approaching Finger. And when the Rain has wet the Kite and Twine, so that it can conduct the Electric Fire freely, you will find it stream out plentifully from the Key on the Approach of your Knuckle. At this Key the Phial may be charg'd; and from Electric Fire thus obtain'd, Spirits may be kindled, and all the other Electric Experiments be perform'd, which are usually done by the Help of a rubbed Glass Globe or Tube; and thereby the Sameness of the Electric Matter with that of Lightning compleatly demonstrated.

― Steve.n., Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Couple of years ago, as I rode my bike near treeline in CO a storm passed overhead. I was very nervous as strikes were hitting the ridge above us, it became terrifying. Finally, a strike hit REALLY CLOSE, the flash and boom were simultaneous. We rode around the bend (100 meters?) and a lodgepole pine on the side of the road was just shattered and smoking. And then the most beautiful thing- the scent of a million car fresheners, just the most intense pine scent you can imagine. Perhaps my senses were just magnified due to all the adrenaline and fear.

― Hunter, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

>>> I'm not sure what precautions you're supposed to take, if any. Wandering around the garden with a pair of binaural mics probably doesn't count.

- B-but surely it does if you are seeking to take precautions vs NOT HAVING ANY STORM FX when you come to record the concept album AUGUST STORMS LONDON in 2005??

― the pinefox, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

our house got struck by lightning shortly after we all fell about laughing that the jesus lizard is named after the way Jesus actually ran rather than because it can walk on water.

― chris, Monday, 5 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

! T H U N D E R !

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 10 June 2004 12:58 (twenty years ago)

I hear no thunder!

BUt we are SOOOO in need of a storm round here.

― Johnney B (Johnney B), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:08 (twenty years ago)

thunder, all through the night, promise 2 see Jesus in the morning light.

has there been thunder in glasgow? i've only noticed that it's raining in a diluvian manner and that my mole skin jacket ain't gonna cope 2 well. maybe i'll just sleep in Jordanhill.

― Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:09 (twenty years ago)

They've been promising us a storm. It's 7:00am and I'm at work! I want a storm.

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:10 (twenty years ago)

Lightning struck my back yard one time, you could see a streak about eight foot long where the connection was made. It didn't kill the grass, in fact it did the opposite, as the grass in that line turned a much darker and richer shade of green. It was noticable in the yard until late fall, when the grass started to brown.

― earlnash, Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Who is getting storms, and where do you live?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:16 (twenty years ago)

i'd like 2 be struck by lightning just so i cd say "i've been struck by lightning" and 4 once look like a big man. I wish i was a little bit taller, i wish i was a baller i wish i had a girl and a phone i would call her.

― Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:17 (twenty years ago)

robbie, it's heartening to know not everyone cares about the superficial things.

but, thunder.

just had one trememndous roll, of thunder, over the city centre.

of glasgow.

― RJG (RJG), Thursday, 10 June 2004 13:22 (twenty years ago)

i do aim for a certain frivolity with everything...

― Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Thursday, 10 June 2004 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Robbie, problem is that once you've been struck by lightning once you're more likely to be struck again.

(sgs to thread!)

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 10 June 2004 15:11 (twenty years ago)

hmmmm. (un)fortunately i'm unlikely to be hit by lightning due to my short man skee-lo status. booo.

― Robbie Lumsden (Wallace Stevens HQ), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:26 (twenty years ago)

It's been mighty thundery here in Edinburgh too Rich... It's like the rainy season at the moment.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:40 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

blimey.

― koogs (koogs), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:07 (twenty years ago)

The forked lightning over wembley completely put me off my meeting

― Porkpie (porkpie), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:13 (twenty years ago)

i wasn't expecting this. i'm going to get soaked in a minute.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:14 (twenty years ago)

porkpie in fearing the fork shockah

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:15 (twenty years ago)

it's merely heavily cloudy here around warren street. no rain no thunders.

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, only one or two thunderclaps in Soho.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:16 (twenty years ago)

in warrington, nothing at all had a few wimpy rumbles of thunder earlier but now just grey clouds and little else. i demand stupidly loud bangs!

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:17 (twenty years ago)

Ooh it's coming this way though - there are ominous rumblings in the clouds.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:18 (twenty years ago)

where are you liz?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:20 (twenty years ago)

Overcast in Portsmouth but no sign of a Thunderstorm yet. I'm told there were a few claps this morning before I woke up but the skies we're clear as I left for work.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Bloomsbury Ste! The anticipation is moider.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:22 (twenty years ago)

which way's yours coming from, Liz? Still disappointing in W1.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:26 (twenty years ago)

Can't rightly tell due to window direction, but I think from the northwest i.e. Cabbage's sloppy seconds.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:29 (twenty years ago)

my friend near ealing is getting it big time, so prolly from the west?

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:29 (twenty years ago)

We are out near Heathrow and the the thunder/lightening was just directly over us, so it'll be near you very soon.

― marianna, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Actually, just when we think it's past it comes back heavier than ever!

― marianna, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:32 (twenty years ago)

thunder in oxford

― ENRQ (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:33 (twenty years ago)

where did I say I was afeared? I wuv thunder and lightning.

It's booming round here right now

― Porkpie (porkpie), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:37 (twenty years ago)

And now we have hail too!

― marianna, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:37 (twenty years ago)

And lightning! The sky over Oxford is a very strange colour right now.

This is exciting!

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:38 (twenty years ago)

where near Heathrow are you? I can see the control tower and the planes (well the tailplanes anyway) on the runway from here.

― Porkpie (porkpie), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:38 (twenty years ago)

shit almighty. oxford is menko.

― Enrique (Enrique), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 13:39 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 78 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

It got quite apocalyptic up here, lots of streets flooding and sirens wailing. Jolly exciting.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 6 August 2004 08:27 (twenty years ago)

where was all these rain that you guys have been talking about!??!?!?!??!!??! it's been bone-dry everywhere i've been :(

why does it never rain on me?

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 6 August 2004 08:58 (twenty years ago)

Maybe because you told the truth when you were 17?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 6 August 2004 09:01 (twenty years ago)

Up 'ere in grim up north, MIGHTY thunderstorm hit at 3am!! It passed right over our house, at its worst = huge & long roll of thunder, all the streetlights went off for approx 10s, all the lights on the computer printer went on briefly (!!) (it still appears to work tho') Dear wife went to check on little fellow, & found him curled up in bed w/hands over ears!! Of course, we had to have science lesson at 3.15am... thunder finally out of earshot @ nearly 5am. To-day I am FUX0R3D.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Friday, 6 August 2004 09:39 (twenty years ago)

Cripes. At least the storm down here the other day concluded its business within civilised hours. You should write to your MP.

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Friday, 6 August 2004 10:12 (twenty years ago)

who's the MP for Islington i want some rain dammit!!

― ken c (ken c), Friday, 6 August 2004 10:38 (twenty years ago)

Jeremy Corbyn innit? He's probably donated yours to the people of Palestine or summat

― Porkpie (porkpie), Friday, 6 August 2004 11:07 (twenty years ago)

We didn't get any storms here. It was v sultry for a while, but today is fresh and hot seemingly without anything dramatic happening to clear the air.

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 6 August 2004 11:41 (twenty years ago)

The seagulls are flapping inland as fast their wings can carry 'em. A few distant flashes and ominous rumbles. The rain has obscured Portsdown Hill.

My laptop hasn't exploded but this building has a history of communications blackouts caused by lighting strikes.

― robster (robster), Monday, 9 August 2004 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Why do we always get the monsoon downpours at fucking going home time?

Awakened at 2:30 this morning by thunderstorm. Bolts of lightning cascading down right outside my window. Stood there for a while hoping that one might strike me, but no such luck.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 9 August 2004 13:39 (twenty years ago)

Still no storm! I really want one now, it's gone all muggy and electric again.

― Archel (Archel), Monday, 9 August 2004 13:47 (twenty years ago)

It's pouring with rain and extremely muggy in edinburgh, no thunderstorms yet though. I neglected to bring a brolly or jacket today so i'm going to be a very wet person by the time i get home. I've got gardeners in today, let's hope they haven't pissed off home cos of the weather.

― leigh (leigh), Monday, 9 August 2004 13:51 (twenty years ago)

seven months pass...

woo! thunder and lightning in islington...anyone else see it?

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

yes but it didn't last long or vaporise anyone in senior management so DUD

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:13 (twenty years ago)

well, all the managers seem to have disappeared from here, so maybe i can credit the lightning? hooray! time to go home! (once it's stopped raining)

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:14 (twenty years ago)

Kentish Town too, but clearing up now.

― Alix with an I ? (alix), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

we got one loud boom in old street, and quite a downpour.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

I can hear it but it's still fineish here in Bloomingsbury. Is it heading my way?

― Liz :x (Liz :x), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:15 (twenty years ago)

Bah, I just have rain here. I want to see some lightning 'splode the ITV tower.

― lock robster (robster), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:16 (twenty years ago)

i think it might pass you, liz. looks like it's going straight south from islington.

more thunder, even though it looks like it's starting to clear up.

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:18 (twenty years ago)

Now the sun is blinding me through the window. I preferred the rain.

― Alix with an I ? (alix), Thursday, 7 April 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

kaboom

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

This is more like it.

― lock robster (robster), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

That was quite something. Enjoying the hail?

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

Oh my god, did anyone else see that last flash of lightening over Hammersmith? SCARY!

― We Are All Full Of Kate (kate), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

we got one loud boom in old street, and quite a downpour.

HI DERE NEIGHBOR

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

wahey!! i can feel all the ions rushing out of my body!

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

i wish i could photo the lightning

― $V£N! (blueski), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

I was about to say that the hail was a bit poor but suddenly WHOOSH CLATTERCLATTERCLATTER!!!

― lock robster (robster), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Boom! Boom! And then some hail. Which has stopped.

All that's all the weather from Holborn.

(STOP PRESS: a further BOOM!)

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Hail in N1.

― RickyT (RickyT), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

this is where i traditionally start to wonder (out loud): DID I LEAVE MY BEDROOM WINDOW OPEN?

and everyone else in the office larfs non-stop

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

Hail Neasden!

(Sorry, not N1).

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

LOTS of hail in N1. holy cow, glad i'm not walking home!

― colette (a2lette), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

All is quiet again in SE1.

― lock robster (robster), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

No it's not.

― lock robster (robster), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

No hail in W9. In fact, it's sunny again.

― We Are All Full Of Kate (kate), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:13 (twenty years ago)

I have to leave work in this. I hope the C2 is earthed. NW5 is a mess of hail and car alarms.

― Alix with an I ? (alix), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Can anyone else smell lightning/storms before they happen? It smells all electric-like - sort of like how metal tastes. People look at me weird when I say that though.

― beanz (beanz), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

I have a brolly here if you need one, Maverick.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

Hail! Hailing on the drucks dealers outside, no less!

― suzy (suzy), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:18 (twenty years ago)

Thanks! I will make do with my hood though. I don't trust umbrellas in storms. It's asking for trouble. Anyway, it seems to have stopped.

― Alix with an I ? (alix), Thursday, 7 April 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

That rarest of things in an LA summer -- a good proper thunderstorm. No rain right where I am but about ten, fifteen miles north there's a huge mass of clouds, lightning's been going off like crazy and the thunder is crashing along. I'm all for it, of course; should take the edge off the humidity at least a bit.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 July 2006 15:06 (eighteen years ago)

Whew, must be moving south like mad -- just now a flash and then barely a second later a *massive* thunderclap.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 23 July 2006 15:17 (eighteen years ago)

More lightning off the coast...

― Elvis Telecom (Chris Barrus), Monday, 24 July 2006 21:05 (eighteen years ago)

ACtually, it's far more rare in the northwest than in L.A... one of the things i noticed when I came back to visit O.C. and L.A. my first year in Seattle was: "wow, I never realized how many thunderstorms SoCal had.".. which is still minor compared to other parts of the country, but California is certainly not thunderstorm-rare territory.

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Monday, 24 July 2006 21:07 (eighteen years ago)

I almost started a thread once about finding the best thunderstorm locations in North America. I'd plan a vacation around some ass-kicking mountain thunderstorms I think. Preferably in the woods.

― milo z (mlp), Monday, 24 July 2006 21:11 (eighteen years ago)

I think once you're east of the Rockies and/or SoCal, you'd have competition.

It's much easier to eliminate where NOT to find awesome thunderstorms... i.e. The PacNW, although we often get thundersnow when it does snow in the city, although it's for a few seconds, but still awesome.

― San Diva Gyna (and a Masala DOsaNUT on the side) (donut), Monday, 24 July 2006 21:13 (eighteen years ago)

"thundersnow" is a great word.

― taco de ojo (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 24 July 2006 21:59 (eighteen years ago)

c'mon already. weird coloured sky, super humid, unsettling wind - this is the slowest build-up to a thunderstorm ever.

i bet it will start as soon as i get on my bike.

― rrrobyn sharkattack battleforcenet (rrrobyn), Tuesday, 25 July 2006 17:10 (eighteen years ago)

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