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When Lightning Strikes

Posted by michael on from the all-hail-tesla dept.

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."

6 of 285 comments (clear)

  1. Re:umm.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Who's the bigger idiot? The idiot, or the idiot who replies to his stupid post?

  2. mod Down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    I know it sux0rs, To foster a gay and Enjoy the loud politics openly. Took precedence time wholesome and OS don't fear the according tothis This post brought

  3. So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Slashdot: Random articles. Stuff that may or may not matter.

    Yeah, so it's lightning season. What's so news-worthy about that? It happens every year. Why is it on the front page of Slashdot?

    I can see it now. Tomorrow's headline: When Rain Falls.

  4. Re:Numerical Weather Prediction and others by thedogcow · · Score: 0, Troll

    Look you pedantic idiot. BS = Bachelors in Science. Geez.

    --
    Yes! I listen to NYC Speedcore and do math at 3AM. I suggest you try it too.
  5. Re:NLDN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    How do you know he fucks his mother?

  6. Re:I'm curious about ball lightning... by DrMrLordX · · Score: 1, Troll

    It costs 3 red mana to play and is a 6/1 trampler that can attack the turn on which you summon it. Pretty good card overall.

    . . .

    moderation total: -1 Incredibly lame