Lightning strikes and thunder rolls

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by for this week's installment of SKY WATCH FRIDAY! Please visit Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy's SKY WATCH BLOG to participate in Sky Watch Fridays, which is WELL WORTH YOUR WHILE!! Thanks to Dot, the momma of this fabulous blogging event, and to my dear friend, Tom, who brought it to full blossom. I, personally, love visiting the skies all over the world!!! You should definitely come fly with us! In honor of Georgia's Severe Weather Awareness topic of the day... Lightning, I thought I would post my favorite lightning capture. I took the shot on August 23, 2007, in my backyard, well through the storm door that leads to my backyard. A huge thanks to Mikey for removing the rain drops that were on the glass. Though, heat is actually the number one weather-related killer and flooding a close second, lightning is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States. Most lightning deaths occur during summer months in Georgia and mostly while people are caught outdoors during a thunderstorm.

A single lightning bolt can be as hot as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit - hotter even than the surface of the sun.

Thunder is actually the sound of the shock wave generated by the rapid heating and cooling of air caused by lightning. Here are some very important safety tips regarding lightning:

1. WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS!!!
*** Stay indoors until 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder. ***
2. Lightning will usually strike the highest object in area.
3. Enclosed vehicles are generally safe, if you avoid contact with metal surfaces.
4. If you are in a forest, seek shelter in a low area under a thick growth of small trees.
5. If you are outside, and feel your hair stand on end, this indicates lightning is about to strike. Drop to your knees and roll forward to the balls of your feet. Place your hands on your knees and tuck your head down. DO NOT LIE FLAT ON THE GROUND!
6. If you are boating or swimming, get to land as quickly as possible.
7. If you are inside, don't use a telephone or other electrical equipment unless in an emergency.
8. Do not take a bath or shower during a thunderstorm.
9. Lightning can strike as far as 15 miles away from the actual storm.

Lightning should be taken VERY SERIOUSLY.

Today, south Georgia and much of Florida temperatures are dipping into record breaking territory with temperatures at or below freezing in much of the area, or in my case, where I watched the temperature drop from 20°F to 16°F during the hour I was getting ready this morning. With a hard freeze upon us today and tomorrow, many farmers are working to try to spare their crops from total devastation. It is really cool how that is done, they actually irrigate the crop with a heavy coat of water while the temperatures are dropping to allow a thick layer of ice to form, which works to insulate the plants from lower temps. It wouldn't be so bad, but they just dealt with freezing temperatures a couple of weeks ago.

All that said, I want to share this photo with you. I don't know who to give credit for it, but I have heard that there has been a protest, speaking out against the "Global Warming" theory, that the media has been cramming down everyone's throat. One particular Global Warming protest was very well attended...LOL! Thanks, Sis and Meso Mike, both of whom shall remain blogless... I appreciate y'all sharing the shot with me. Too funny!

Have a bright, sunshiny day!
~Dewdrop