We had an impressive lightning storm the other night and I captured some of it on the digital camera. Actually, as I write this, thunder is once again rumbling in the distance. The weather has turned hot and humid the last few days - yesterday climbed to just over 30°C (86°F) and today is pretty close to it already, which at this time of year equates to lots of lightning storms which is great because I love watching nature letting rip. Here's a couple of images from the other night (Monday night):
In other news, we have had policemen hanging out watching people on the corner of our block for the last week or two during the day and evening. We live in what would be considered a quiet and relatively safe part of New York, so it's been a little disturbing seeing them there, although at the same time reassuring. The reason I say disturbing is because we live in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood, and the only time there has been police patrolling around here in the past (at least to this extent) has been when the terror alert status was at extreme, so it kind of makes one a little nervous as to why they are around all of the sudden. They stand out on the corner and make themselves as visible as possible, so they are obviously there as a deterant ...but why now? hmm.
Nereus | May 12, 2004 6:14 PM | Reply
In the few hours since writing this, the weather has got a lot worse. In the space of 30 minutes, the temperature dropped by 20F and the thunder at the moment is shaking the windows. Apparently over in New Jersey (not far) they had a big hail storm with it as well!
I just checked the weather report:
A severe weather warning alert is in effect which includes severe thunderstorms in the area, along with flood warnings, torrential rains, frequent lightning and gusty winds. Hail to the size of nickels is possible as well.
These are their words, not mine. Fun!
Nereus | May 12, 2004 6:18 PM | Reply
Hah! The longer range forecast from now through to next Sunday is predicting thunderstorms every single day. Weeeee!
RWO | May 13, 2004 3:10 AM | Reply
Hey,
Awesome pictures. I miss weather. I'm originally from Norristown, Pa. Since I came to San Diego, it's the same thing day after day. Start out in the morning and wait until the smog burns off, then it gets warm and it stays that way until night where it cools down 10-20 degrees. It never rains so we get to have our brush fires. We can't go to our emergency rooms because the lines of illegals are in front of us in line. We pay the highest gas prices in the country along with car registrations and taxes. I can hardly wait until the wife qualifies for retirement so I can do the same thing all California taxpayers are doing. That is move, as all corporations are doing and all taxpayers are doing. Arnold is now talking about raising taxes and giving drivers licenses to illegals after they have backround checks. Of couse i know what that test will be. Do you have a back? Si. Is it rounded? Si. Congrats, you have a license. Grey out Davis has created quite the welfare state here. Almost everyone gets a state check. How are they going to maintain that when they have no taxpayers? This state is circling the drain and I as someone who has a family income of 6 figures, has no inclination of supporting folks that have no desire to work of don't even belong in this country in the first place. Anyway, I'm glad to see you visited my blog and If I get your permission I will link yours to mine. Mine will sometimes express my rage at the way I see the country going in the toilet, but will also be sprinkles with sea stories and family crap as well as a few local issues. If all this beheading and prison abuse stuff hadn't come up I have a great rant about Petco Park and the Padres, which will be up in a couple of days. These issues were just too hot and I was really emotionally affected. Take care my friend and I'll definately continue to stop by for a visit.
Randy Hicks
CWO4 (Ret) USN
RWO
David LeFebvre | May 17, 2004 10:18 PM | Reply
Stunning photographs. I've always been enthralled with wind and lightning storms. I remember one night during a visit to my brother's place in suburban Chicago, right around nightfall, the sky was a soft purple, and lightning would dart horizontally across the sky every so often, turning the purple sky into an almost unnatural-looking pink. It was absolutely breathtaking...
Cheri Bradbury | June 1, 2004 2:31 AM | Reply
I was curious about your blog (saw it listed as Blog of the Month on joeant.com) and when I came to visit, these lightning photos really caught my eye! I am newly moved to Colorado where we have some awesome (to me) storms and I'd like some hints on how to take storm photos. I know that may sound silly, but lightning happens so fast, how do you get clicked in time? My digital camera takes a couple of seconds to take a photo. Anyway, thanks for any ideas. Your photos really are stunning :-)
Nereus | June 1, 2004 4:46 AM | Reply
Hiya Cheri, thanks for the heads up re joeant.com, no idea how they found my site LOL :)
With the lightning photos I used the digital camera (Canon Powershot A80) in video mode and then downloaded the .avi files to the PC. The software that came with the camera allowed me to view the movies frame by frame and 'print' off any single frame as a .gif image, it was as easy as that. If your digital cam can shoot short video clips as well, then you should be sweet :)
shanelewis | March 15, 2005 9:22 AM | Reply
great pic we dont see much lightning here in england and when we do it only last a few bangs great to see some great pics of mother nature leeting co