I’m not sure if you’ve heard but we had a little storm here yesterday. The pictures I took cannot convey the vastness of the storm-show that was going on outside those windows. The lightning forks were huge, blinding, and felt very close. There was one that seemed right outside the window, like it might have hit the brave little flagpole on the roof. The thunder was vast and cracking, right overhead. We literally watched it approach, like Doomsday on the march. Clear sky to the south, and then this black line.
Storms like that are an unfortunate everyday occurrence down here in Atlanta lately. I heard there was golf ball sized hail in Manhattan? Ouch.
Kristen – yes, we saw the hail!
August is normally a-thunderstorm-a-day weather here in New York – but nothing this huge or that lasted this long. It was a spectacle!!
You know, this is a very strange summer for us down south, too. We usually get the weather that you guys got yesterday, which we just call a severe thunderstorm, which is quite common (along with hurricanes, too). Here on the Gulf Coast, we have had record lows this summer. Last Thursday, it was in the lower to mid 70’s (which is more like late February or early March) and you guys have had some of our more warmer temps in the upper 90’s and above. When it is that hot around here, we don’t get any news coverage. We call it summer. But for you guys, it has to come a shock to experience warm temps such as what we call normal here. I know I was quite stunned and perplexed to have mid 70’s in July. I don’t know if that has ever happened. Insofar as the rain and hail, I didn’t realize that it is uncommon for ya’ll to get severe thunderstorms.
It’s not uncommon at all, Bethann. As I mentioned, in August we have about one a day, on average. This goes into September. The mugginess and heat around here have been deadly going on about two weeks.
So no, it is not a shock. We “call this summer” too.
It was the severity of this storm that took us aback (we had major flooding in my neighborhood and there were deaths as well in some of the boroughs – a couple people struck by lightning) – as well as the drama of the approach. My vantage point gave me a front row seat – which is why I wrote about it. I got pics where I was actually high up – normally I’m at ground level.
It also lasted hours. That was quite unusual. This was armageddon outside for a good two hours, or more. The drains flooded over. The subway stations were like wading pools. There was flooding on the West Side Highway. Blah blah, it was chaos.
I bet you were looking for Noah, huh?
I knew I had to get 20 blocks to get my bus home, and it was so nuts outside (no cabs available, flooded subways, etc.) that I walked the 20 blocks in the rain. Hahaha The lesser of a couple evils. And the lightning looked like it was right overhead.
I looooove storms. When I’m safe inside, that is. I’m sure my cat was quietly having a nervous breakdown at home.
Poor Hope. I am sure there were many deeply terrified cats and dogs all over the tri-state area.
I love the photo of everyone looking out the window at the storm. Weather is so fascinating.
And we had this unobstructed view of Lower Manhattan and the entire NY harbor. I mean, when do you get that vantage point in New York? Almost never, unless you live in a skyscraper!
Cool, wasn’t it? I was in the middle of it. On a motorcycle. Fun times.
Ha! Wow! Badass!!
Kinda thrilling.
But glad you’re okay.
I was down by the river watching it come up, and went back inside once it started raining. The lightning was out of this world. I wish I had caught a picture of it!