Last night I witnessed one of the most intense lightening storms I have ever seen. What is more, I was outside walking to my Tango lesson when the bulk of it occurred. The sky looked like the Super Bowl stadium at kickoff--relentless flashes coming from every direction. Finally, the rain was so bad, and the lightening was so powerful, I decided to stop under a the overhang of a nearby building. Moments later, a deafening crash filled my ears as a lightening bolt struck the building directly in front me. Sparks flew off the roof of the building, and a brief sizzling noise followed.
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This is lightening in the ash cloud from the volcano
that erupted in Chile recently. The ash has carried all
the way to Buenos Aires and prevented flights for
almost a week! |
This was the closest I have ever been to a "cloud to ground" strike, and boy, it was a scary sight. I found shelter after that--there was no way I would continue walking in a storm that dangerous. Coincidentally, today is the first day of Lightening Safety Awareness Week. I just learned that 50 people a year die from lightening strikes. Be safe out there!
"In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and has been widely regarded as a bad move."
-Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Or, the funniest book I've ever read)
PS I took refuge in the nearest public building, which was a McDonald's. Worst decision of the night. I ended up eating dinner there, and feeling both physically and spiritually confused.
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