The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
-Psalm 19:1

Do you know that God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
-Job 37:15



Thursday, May 01, 2008

Lightning Strikes

Sky Watch Friday post time!!! (Please visit Tom's blog to participate.) OK, so I took this shot back in August, but it is my absolute favorite lightning shot (that I have taken). I was standing in my sun room to protect myself (somewhat) from the dangerous thunderstorm that I was standing there photographing. The original shot has been cropped and had the drops removed to result in the one seen above... see, I have the original here. You see, this is my backyard. I decided to post this pic of CG (cloud to ground lightning) in honor of severe weather season. Lightning is among the most dangerous and life threatening of the severe weather elements.

WHAT IS LIGHTNING?
Lightning is the result of the buildup and discharge of
electrical energy. The air in a lightning strike is heated
to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. It is this rapid heating of
the air that produces the shock wave that results in
thunder.
A cloud-to-ground lightning strike begins as an
invisible channel of electrically-charged air moving from
the cloud toward the ground. When one channel nears
an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity
from the ground moves upward to the clouds and
produces the visible lightning strike.
Generally, if you are close enough to hear thunder, you are in danger of being struck, so get indoors immediately.

I will update more after we see what happens tonight in the plains. Current subsidence inversion (capping) has a hold over convection, and thunderstorms are being prevented from development, but that is weakening, and it could be a rough night. A tornado watch has just been issued for parts of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. Stay tuned.

May 2nd update:I can't tell you how excited Jim Cantore on TWC was to be talking about the busted cap last night. That was the last element standing in the way of a tornado outbreak, which occurred just after the cap broke (the cap is almost like a roof, hot air has no where to go, and its existence prevents storm development). Here is the synopsis of what happened last night... it was an exciting night in storm chasing... Currently, the tornado report count stands at 19 reports, and a few of those were multivortex tornadoes, having two on the ground at the same time. One, in Ralston, Oklahoma was 100 yards wide.
** RALSTON OSAGE OK at about 9:25PM **100 YARD WIDE MULTI VORTEX TORNADO. HAS BEEN 2 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME.
** PAWHUSKA OSAGE OK 10:07PM **TORNADO THAT IS TRACKING THROUGH PAWNEE AND OSAGE COUNTIES REMAINS ON THE GROUND AT THIS TIME. CONTINUED REPORTS OF 2 TORNADOES ON THE GROUND AT THE SAME TIME INTERMITTENT
** BELTON CASS MO 10:08PM **TWO BRIEF TOUCHDOWNS NEAR INTERSECTION OF 215TH AND PROSPECT
Let's not overlook the fact that it was a night event, so tornadoes would have been especially difficult to spot, so it is likely that more occurred than were even reported in an outbreak like that. During the night, the storms merged to a bowed squall line, wreaking havoc in Kansas City, Missouri will 80mph winds, which cause more widespread damage than tornadoes because of the larger area they cover. Storms continue into today, with a Public Severe Weather Outlook having been issued this morning for an area of moderate risk for severe weather (including parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee). Tornado watches are chasing the squall line across the southern plains. The main threat with this storm is large hail and damaging winds, but isolated tornadoes that form are expected to be strong, given the environment. Another weather radio day.

I know of a few storm chasers out in this storm today and were yesterday, too.

Steve Miller, OK
Amos Magliocco
Dick McGowan (not sure if he was out...)
Tony Laubach

Happy Friday!
~Dewdrop

34 comments:

  1. Fantastic photos of lightning!

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  2. I have never been lucky enough to catch a lightening strike. Looks like you have caught more than one. Nice photos.

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  3. What great shots, love em.


    Please come visit mine.

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  4. Thanks, Quintarantino!!!

    Abraham, I wish I could take credit for two shots like that, but it is just one that was cropped to remove the reflection. I have caught lightning more than once, but this is BY FAR my best.

    Thanks, imac! Will do.

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  5. Dewdrop: Great capture of the of the lighting. Great music on you sight.

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  6. Oh how marvelous to catch the lightning in your photograph. I'm glad you were in a safe spot!!

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  7. nice catch! mine's up too, glad you could visit. Have a great weekend!

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  8. FANTASTIC! :)
    And a little bit scary.... ;)

    Ida

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  9. This shots I realy love! Fantastic!

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  10. That is a fantastic shot. I have always wanted to capture lightning strikes but that is hard to do. Great capture for you.

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  11. An amazing capture! I have never attempted to capture lightening but hope to someday try.

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  12. Stunning. Literally. Artistically. These are great.

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  13. These are awesome photos! I would love to capture a shot like these!

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  14. Amazing and spectacular, to take the breath, great shot, congratulations.

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  15. Well done Dewdrop
    I was going to say your picture was 'Striking' but I'll change that to awesomes.. :O)
    It sure as been a busy week for you guys with the storms an all. I have to say it again but this is a great blog and I always enjoy my visits.

    Tom

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  16. This is a very cool shot. How many shots do you have to take to catch one of these? You must be DEVOTED!! lol Lucky for us.

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  17. Amazing photos and information.Love your music:o)

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  18. Lightening is one of those images that evades me. This is a brilliant shot, i'd love to have taken.

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  19. Petunia, So powerful! Thanks!

    Fishing guy, Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the music.

    Ellen, I was safer than standing in the middle of the yard anyways...

    D Herrod, THANKS!

    Snap Catch, thanks. I visited yours and you have a great weekend as well.

    Ida, Thanks. It's good to respect lightning. Most lightning deaths occur well after or well before the rain. People think the danger is past.

    Pernille, Thanks! I was thrilled to catch it.

    Andrea, Tonight is my big relay night. As for the lightning, you just have to be patient and keep shooting.

    Rose, It's very rewarding to catch it.

    Sandy, Thanks a bunch!

    Sherry, It was thrilling. Thanks!

    Denise, Thanks! Powerfully written.

    Tom, You're so kind. I love you hosting this. Please don't get run over watching the sky. I enjoy your visits too.

    Bryning Bunny, I took a ton of shots. I love digital, and I am very DEVOTED!!

    Anne, Glad you like the info. I am glad to share it. Glad you enjoy the music too.

    Babooshka, Just keep trying. It evaded me too...

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  20. Your camera had to be quick to catch lightning! Great shots.

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  21. Wow! You really caught that lightning in your photo!

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  22. Sadly it looks like the severe outbreak today is taking a deadly toll....These storms have been raging since around 7pm EST last night.


    SCM

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  23. Holy smokes! Fantatstic shots here, Dewdrop.

    Thanks for the information about lightening and all. As always, I learned something.

    We get very very very few lightening storms here in Western Oregon, so when we do - even if it's in the middle of the night - we all run out to the covered porch and watch. Maybe we're asking for it, but we've survived our folly all these years. ; ) How I love a good storm!

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  24. very interesting and amazing images, excellent.

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  25. Awesome shot!! Thanks for posting it.

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  26. I have tried to catch but never managed ;),
    cool!

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  27. Dewdrop -

    Thanks for the comment on April 23rd, you caught the last day I had measurable snow in my yard. I only wish I had the amount of lightning (beautiful photos!) and storms that you guys down-south have.

    We did record our first Spring touchdown in Wisconsin last weekend - EF1 with a total length of 27 miles. Luckily no human injuries, but 2 horses survived a barn collapse. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=tor-042508

    Cheers! nathan

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  28. This a very awesome lightning shot! wheeew! I love it! Looks like you are too close with that lightning... Thanks for the infos as well... :) Have a great day...

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  29. EG tour guide, I really did! It was a thrill.

    Mikey, I know. Isn't it awful?! I missed all of it because of the Relay for Life, but when I made it back to TWC, I heard all the statistics. Terrible.

    Cherie, THANKS!!! Glad you were able to learn something. Probably not the best idea to run out onto the porch during a thunderstorm, but I tend to have the same less-than-smart behavior.

    Daniel, Thanks!!

    Champ townboy, Thanks and you're welcome.

    R&J, Takes a ton of patience and LUCK!

    Nathan, Snow...? Ewww.. I'll be up in Wisconsin in June... hopefully, y'all will be finished with winter by then. LOL! A tornado or two would be good to chase. Thanks for sharing the info about Wisconsin's first nader of the season. Glad the horses made it through OK.

    Ice, Thanks. I was very close, too close is right. Please don't do as I do, do as I say. ;O)

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  30. Wow, what magnificent photographs you got here. The power of storms is overwhelming and all we can do is hide. Puts a lot of things in perspective. Great work and informative post.

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  31. Thanks, Andree. It is phenomenal, the power of storms. The finger of God. I appreciate your feedback.

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