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When Lightning Strikes
ctwxman writes "For most of the United States (sorry West Coast), this is the season for lightning. It is as powerful as it is spectacular to look at. It is destructive too - by itelf or through the hail, straight line winds and tornadoes that often accompany it. As someone who forecasts the weather, I'm often asked about lightning. As you might imagine, there's plenty to see about lightning on the Internet. The conditions necessary and a little bit of the physics behind lightning are explained by Jeff Haby, a meteorologist (one of my professors actually) at Mississippi State University. Once forecasters get a handle on what's going on, they put the word out through the Storm Prediction Center. Regular outlooks are issued by SPC for severe storms. Once those storms rear their ugly heads, they're followed with mesoscale discussions looking at the active areas. The Storm Prediction Center is also the place where Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches are issued and storm related damage reports are compiled. Lots of hobbyists like to track lightning strikes on their own, and there's equipment available to do just that. Getting hit by lightning is never fun, though not always fatal. National Geographic chronicled an amazing story of a lightning strike, and rescue, on Grand Teton."
Q: Why did the blonde keep stopping then smile during a
lightning storm?
A: She thought she was getting her picture taken.
The headline is great!
Not really on it's own merits, but I instantly imagined the remarks from when the "story" is posted again in 2 weeks: "When Lightning Strikes Twice"
As someone who has lost his share of equipment to lightning hits over the years (telephones, one PC, even a CB radio) I love being able to unplug my wireless laptop and feel safe to keep surfing. God bless 802.11b.
LETS DECOMPOSE & ENJOY ASSEMBLING
For most of the United States (sorry West Coast), this is the season for lightning.
Damn. And I had my cable hanging down from the Hill Valley Clock Tower all ready too.
The coolest voice ever.
As someone who forecasts the weather
Sorry, you've lost all credibility right there.
-my other sig is your mom
Lightning.
Lightening would be used as such:
"I plan on lightening my backpack by throwing away all the books in it that I could potentially use to learn how to spell."
Lightning.
I live next to a golf course with a lightning detector to warn golfers of electrical activity in the vicinity. I'm not trying to paint all such products with the same brush, but the detector only seems to trigger the warning sirens just after a thunderclap so I've been somewhat skeptical of the utility of these devices.
Still the noise from the detector is better than golf balls hitting my roof so anything that gets people off the course and give me peace is welcome.
If you mention one more relative, this will be an observable pattern worth formal inspection. We know lightning strikes trees, but family trees?
Anyone seen my jagged little pill?
I'm in Sydney, Australia and I just saw a butterfly flapping its wings. Someone on the other side of the world is about to get a tornado on their doorstep.
Hey, i live a few miles away from where you're currently at. KNOCK IT OFF WITH THE TOMFOOLERY AND THE PROTONS N SUCH. Thanks.
People on TV usually do not have a BS in meteorology.
i beg to differ. tv weather people have substantial BS when it comes to weather.
Serenity now, insanity later.
"Cap'n, the ion storm is causing the antimatter containment to fail!"
Come to Jupiter.
There are lightning discharages here that are larger than your entire planet.
Discharges around what you call "the Great Red Spot" are particularly beautiful.
Wait.
I meant go to Jupiter, not come to Jupiter.
I, of course, have never been there myself, any more than any of you humans have.
Wait.
I meant us humans, not you humans.
Yeah, that's it.
Us humans.
Us humans have never been to Juptier.
Damn, this vocal entry thing isn't working.
Computer, don't hit the submit but
Those who sacrifice security to condemn liberty deserve to repeat history or something. - Benjamin Santayana
I smile as I hear thunder, as it usually means one or more customers on dialup, with no surge protection on their phone line, coming in with toasted modem, dead computer, etc. Ka-ching!