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From: H. Russ Hughes (no email)
Date: Tue Dec 02 2003 - 18:36:40 EST
Reference: Lightning experiences.
Kurt
You had an interesting (while sitting safely and reading about it) experience
with Saint Elmo's Fire. There are stories of sailors on the tall ships way
back when experiencing this phenomenon. The ball Lightning you also described
is not all that common and scientist have yet to come up with an explanation
of what it is. Thanks for that vivid description of your experience.
Devices are now available on the market to warn you of an approaching
lightning storm. I don't know how good these devices are. When listening to
the AM radio, occasionally the radio program will be washed out and the radio
just sits there making popping and screeching sounds. This is caused by a
charged atmosphere that can be charged by either precipitation discharges from
flying sand, raindrops, etc. This is called precipitation static by radio
listeners. This can also be an indication of the charged air around the radio
antenna caused by a close by lightning storm. Listening to the periodic static
crashes on an AM radio is a good indication of an approaching electrical
storm.
I have never been struck directly by lightning, but I have been right across
the street when lightning struck a CB antenna that fortunately was grounded.
The personal effect on me was a short term paralysis with my jaw locked in an
open position and I couldn't close it. One of my son's reaction was bouncing
up and down on the "V" berth on his knees uncontrollably, again for just a
moment or so. The boys had been sleeping in the boat parked in the driveway,
and hearing a few distant thunder claps, I got up at about 2 AM and went out
to see how they were doing. I told my son that if he got up and looked out
the cabin window that he might see a few good lightning bolts way off in the
distance. It wasn't but a minute later when we got our unexpected treat with
one hitting right across the street. A bright and very loud flashbang is a
pretty close strike.
I get the impression that most people who are struck directly by a lightning
bolt, either die, or are very seriously injured. Many descriptions I have read
seem to indicate that many people who are sure they have been struck directly
by lightning, may have been instead struck fortunately by something less than
the main lightning bolt. It can't be pleasant in either case, being a shocking
experience to say the least.
Russ Hughes
Slo-N-Easy
Richland, Wa.
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