# Damn, That was Some Lightning!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 9, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625 "2005-06-09T18:45:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/1 "2005-06-09T18:45:53Z")
It’s been drizzling here today, not too much lightning action, just an occasional flash, and low roll. Until 5 minutes ago. KABAAAM! The thunder rolled for 25 seconds. At a minimum that spark was Five Miles Long.
Now I need to go put my skin back on. :eek:
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### Author:  [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/2 "2005-06-09T20:19:16Z")
Don’t happen to live in FL do you? We get that shit all the time.
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### Author:  [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/3 "2005-06-09T20:29:07Z")
Had something like that happen just a couple of weeks ago. Sitting at home, the front door was open, it was starting to rain, then KABLAM! From the duration between lightning and thunder, it probably hit a block away, down by the river. :eek:
It’s the only time my dog has ever looked even slightly perturbed by the weather; he’s usually a really unflappable dog.
Also, I have to tell my “coolest lightning moment ever” story here. I was driving to work in Houston many years ago, listening to “Cannonball” by the Breeders. For those of you who are familiar with the song, there’s a section that goes:
_Sitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell–CRASH!
I’m the last splash_
Well, _exactly_ when that CRASH! happened, a _huge_ lightning bolt lanced down out of the sky directly in front of me on the horizon. It was so awesome I had to tell all my co-workers about it when I got to work. 🆒
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### Author:  [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/4 "2005-06-09T20:30:22Z")
Years ago, the pine tree next to our house got zapped as we were watching TV. Messed up both the tree and the TV, of course, but better them than us!
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### Author:  [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/5 "2005-06-09T21:17:07Z")
Hey, thanks for noticing. I try.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/6 "2005-06-09T21:22:06Z")
Just the other day we had a massive storm roll through here, and as I am wont to do I went outside and marveled at the weather.
Next thing I know I feel a CRACK! The lightning hit so close to me I could feel the heat.
I went inside just as fast as I could after that. That was an eye opener.
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### Author:  [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/7 "2005-06-09T21:25:33Z")
[This](http://home.fuse.net/engineering/LightningHairB.jpg) is the coolest photo I have ever seen. They just missed getting schwacked, but the person who stood in that spot just seconds later died.
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### Author:  [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/8 "2005-06-09T21:43:37Z")
> [@Airman Doors](#):
>
> [This](http://home.fuse.net/engineering/LightningHairB.jpg) is the coolest photo I have ever seen. They just missed getting schwacked, but the person who stood in that spot just seconds later died.
Dear Og, that is the most terrifying photo I’ve ever seen.
That has to be the best photographic example of Darwinism in action.
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2005, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-that-was-some-lightning/307625/9 "2005-06-10T00:43:23Z")
> [@Flander](#):
>
> Don’t happen to live in FL do you?
Nebraska. This time of year we usually get compact cells that unleash bolt after bolt for 20 minutes, trail hail, and maybe a tornado or two.
The long drizzles of spring are usually just a little rumbly, so I wasn’t expecting hellfire. There were two more big bolts over the next hour. Thunder from the largest lasted 38 seconds, and set off every car alarm in town.