Lightning!

Tonight, I had a bit of a close call with a lightning strike.  I had just driven up to my barn and was about to leave the car to take a horse out to his field when I decided to check the good ol' RadarScope app on my phone (amazing app that I highly recommend!).  I noticed that there was a storm about 10 miles to the north of my location and a squall line about 45 minutes away from where I was.  I'd seen a few flashes of lightning on my drive out to the barn but they'd seemed relatively far away. 

I had my hand on the door handle when just south of the farm, lightning struck!  It was incredibly loud but still assumed it was at least a mile away.  It wasn't until I got home (we live just south of where the farm is located...probably less then a mile) that my husband asked about the lightning strike he saw hit from just north of the house.  That strike occurred in between the farm and the house and the closest storm was at least 10 miles away!

With all the weather data at our fingertips, it's so easy to be lulled into a false sense of security if you don't see a storm directly over your location.  I incorrectly assumed I'd have at least 45 minutes to get all my outdoor chores done before there would be any sort of lightning danger.  It was dumb as I'd seen several lightning flashes and know that if you can hear thunder then lightning can strike.  I in no way think that having such amazing access to weather data is a negative.  It's just still important to remember basic weather rules.  My meteorology degree couldn't have saved me tonight when I almost went out to play in a thunderstorm!  Please remember, "When thunder roars, go indoors!" (NWS Lightning Safety).

 

Lightning strikes from VAISALA this evening.  The map was generated around 830pm EDT.