Monday, July 06, 2015

Lightning Strike-Too Close for Comfort

 

Wesley Chapel, Florida (high 92, low 72)

 

We’re still here in Florida but are wrapping things up to leave soon.  The north Georgia mountains are calling our names. Our friends Ralph and Terry are already there and Catherine and JoBeth are heading that way soon.   We Floridians like to escape this heat.

Typical summer weather in Florida brings afternoon thunderstorms, when the sea breezes from the east and west coasts collide.

The sea breezes  collided right over our heads yesterday bringing some nasty lightning and thunder.

Florida is the lightning capitol of the world and I think Tampa is the lightning capitol of Florida, so we try to be extra careful.

We were inside when lightning struck nearby.  We both happened to be looking outside and saw a flash of light and some smoke.  It was right across the street and the first thing I though of was the vacant motorhome that was right there.  I looked for smoke coming from it, but we soon realized it struck next to the tree.  Fortunately, there was minimal damage and none to any RV’s.

It scared poor Baxter to much that he ran but couldn’t get any traction and I could hear his “wheels spinning.”  He is normally not bothered by thunder and lightning but this one shook the whole coach and sounded like a bomb hit.

Some of our neighbors went out to check it out but we could still hear thunder so we stayed inside.  Who says lightning doesn’t strike twice?  I was amazed people went outside to check out a lightning strike, IN THE LIGHTNING!  

I finally got out this morning to check it out.

It appears it entered in the concrete and traveled through the dirt and up to the tree. 

You can see how close it was to this motorhome.

Quail Run lightning strike

 

 Quail Run ligQuail Run lightning

 

You can see where it struck the concrete.

Quail Run lightning strike

 

Can you imagine if it hit your body?

I see people outside all the time when there is thunder and lightning.  We have a Weatherbug App on our phone which tells you how far away the nearest lightning is located.  We try to stay inside if it’s closer than 14 miles.

You can see how close it was from this next picture taken from out patio.

Quail Run lightning strike

 

 

By the way, one of our neighbors that says they have a surge protector, and the strike fried their cable box.   I”m not sure if they have the high end Progressive Industries surge protector that we do, but I don’t think it would have helped a direct hit.

20 comments:

  1. Wow, that was really close! I have a Progressive Industries Surge Protector on my electrical cord, but after seeing the hole in the concrete, I don't think it would offer any protection to my MH electrical system from a lightening strike. :cO

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  2. Holy cow. I would have been running for cover with Baxter. I'm with you - I don't understand these people who go outside in a lightning storm. I use the Weatherbug App all the time also. It's time for you to head north. Wish it was time for us also but not yet.

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  3. well that just goes to show you lightning doesn't always strike something that is tall and upright
    WOW!

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  4. That was a close call, but at least everyone is safe, for now.

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  5. Glad you guys are okay. Kathy said to give poor Baxter a hug for her to settle his nerves.
    The best surge protectors on the market would be no match for a lightning strike.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  6. Did you feel the electricity in the air? In Arkansas I had one hit so close to our house (hit electrical pole) that I could feel the electricity tingle through my body...or maybe it was something else tinkling (lol). --Dave

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  7. That is wild! Are you sure it didn't hit the tree and travel down a root and come up the concrete? Great pictures. I guess it doesn't really matter what it hit first, it hit and hit hard. Stay safe. We are in Texas right now and the heat was terrible in Houston, not as bad in Amarillo now.

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  8. Now that would be scary. We're currently up near Clermont, FL and I believe it has rained and thundered every day for the past week.

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  9. Living in the foothills we had lots of lightning strikes on our land at the farm and nothing will protect from a direct hit. Or even a near direct. I don't ever see all the wonderful things you have on your weatherbug on my app. I just adore your header picture.

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  10. Yikes! We saw a bolt strike about 25 yards away from inside a building at the Jack Daniels Distillery...

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  11. We are just down the road from you here in Clearwater for the summer while Bob goes to school. The thunderstorms are quite dramatic. We have been enjoying the cloud formations. Luckily, no lightening has hit as close to us.

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  12. Lightening frightens me, especially when it's real close like that. Scary!!

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  13. We had a major lightning storm Thursday here at the ranch. It took out the phone systems, the internet, time clock, and various items such as the computer printer. being office personnel I have a phone in my RV. The strike blew the connections right off the post outside. In the Rvs we lost our WIFI Ranger, our neighbor lost her converter, and one rig down from there lost their air conditioners. It was bad!

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  14. Hello!!! We are experiencing a Florida shower now-not too bad on the east coast....we were in KW about the same time as you, but time slipped away and didn't have a chance to meet...maybe later :) Will be back in the keys for winter... Enjoy your blog!

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