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#521
Normal service resumes as the rain returns.
Not here, it still feels muggy. 80F/26.6C 73% humidity.
I enjoy a good electrical storm also, and I've had three close calls in my time.
Two back when I was a youngster, I was outside on my parents porch watching one when a bolt hit a locust tree I was looking at about 100feet/30.5Meters away.
I had "flash blindness" for about 30seconds, and the roar was deafening! Split that 4foot diameter tree right down to the ground.
A few years later same location, same type of tree and about the same distance in our neighbors yard across the street. This time it blew all the upper branches off, split the upper 10 feet or so then blew all the rest of the bark off that tree. That tree was as naked as a new born baby!
Same result for me, I had "flash blindness" for about 30seconds, and the roar was deafening!
The third one was a few years ago where we live now, I was on the patio watching a storm come in when all of a sudden I felt all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I had a strange feeling like buzzing through my body.
I thought Uh-oh and seconds after I squatted down a bolt hit right next door at the neighbors house.
I didn't get blinded this time, but again the roar was deafening, actually hurt this time.
There was one other storm at my folks house were I got hit on the head with some ping-pong ball size hail, ouch that hurt!
And a storm blew in while I was fishing the Susquehanna River bolts striking all around until I could find shelter.
If you're that close to a strike you'll notice a strong smell maybe ozone? after it hits.
Safety Tips:What does ozone smell like?
Ozone's characteristic odor can be smelled immediately after a lightening storm or near photocopiers and electric motors, all which generate ozone. Its odor has also been described as the smell of clean bed sheets or forest air.
Source: Technical Resource Library from Cole-Parmer
Thunderstorms & Lightning | Ready.gov
Enjoy the storms their one of Nature's greatest shows, but keep you and your loved-ones safety in mind.