Famous Thunderstorms

**Thunderblaster** · 01/10/2005, 11:22 PM

Anyone can remember their favourite thunderstorm?
The worst thunderstorm I was caught in was in Dublin on the 24th August 1990. I remember going through the North Circular Road and it was getting so dark that office lights and some street lights were switched on. I was going to Aughrim Street Church at the time to a funeral and as soon as the funeral started, the thunder started at 5:45. The thunder after no time got so loud and violent that it was practically shaking the church and the lightning was lighting up inside. There were people running into the church after five minutes and they looked like drowned rats. I left the church at 6:30 and the rain had eased off at that stage but the thunder was still rumbling. The road at Aughrim Street had turned from bone dry to a torrent that was nearly level with the pavement in 45 minutes.

Going across the north city back to Donnycarney, I was encountering floods up to the bonnets of cars, particularly near Fitzgibbon Street. On getting back to Donnycarney, I heard that one house had a lucky escape when lightning hit the back garden (I think it was the clothes line).

The thunder was over at that stage when I got back to Donnycarney. I think for most Dublin people, the thunderstorm on the night of the 25th-26th July 1985 would be the storm of the century.

I would love to hear more stories and did anyone ever capture a good lightning picture in Ireland?

**dahamsta** · 01/10/2005, 11:40 PM

Glastonbury in June. Words fail me, it was just incredible.

adam

**The Stars** · 02/10/2005, 2:08 PM

Hurrican Katrina....

**sligoman** · 02/10/2005, 2:15 PM

The worst storm I was caught in would have to be around Christmas a few years ago in Galway. I was down shopping in the retail park near Terryland Park and the wind and rain was just unbelivable then thunder and lightening started. Was thinking of staying the night somewhere down there cos we weren't sure about driving home in it

**Thunderblaster** · 02/10/2005, 7:06 PM

Originally Posted by The Stars

Hurrican Katrina....

Was there thunder and lightning with the hurricane?

**paul_oshea** · 03/10/2005, 9:41 AM

tb you are like my brother he loves thunderstorms, i spose they are its cool when you are sitting inside or in a car where you really get to feel it and can look out at all the people walking or with no coats or whatever awful funny altogether

**finlma** · 03/10/2005, 9:51 AM

Every night in Thailand there was a thunder storm like clock work. We used get into the sea for a swim cause the water was so warm and watch the sky light up. Wish I was back there now

**Thunderblaster** · 03/10/2005, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by finlma

Every night in Thailand there was a thunder storm like clock work. We used get into the sea for a swim cause the water was so warm and watch the sky light up. Wish I was back there now

You're very lucky not to have being hit by lightning as you should be aware that you should get out of water during a thunderstorm. Lightning can strike up to ten miles away from the cloud. I take it that you were there during the monsoon season. In tropical places, the weather is very choreographed, hence the nightly thunderstorms that probably came at 11:00 and finished up at 1:00.

**superfrank** · 04/10/2005, 10:55 AM

I remember when I was like 4 I was visiting relatives in Kerry and we were going to get the train back from Farranfore. There was some storm going around, I think it was called Hurricane Charlie, and the wind was really strong.

Anyway, we were standing on the platform and a big gust of wind came along and my aunt shouts "Get away from the ****ing train!!"

That's all I remember, strangely enough.

**Troy.McClure** · 04/10/2005, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by finlma

Every night in Thailand there was a thunder storm like clock work. We used get into the sea for a swim cause the water was so warm and watch the sky light up. Wish I was back there now

The same in Strasbourg when I was there for a summer. Every night around 11-12. The lightening only struck Germany though, never France

We flew through a lightening storm from India to Dubai which was $hit cool. Quite un cool at the time though was landing in Cork one time in the middle of a storm. The plane was being blown around and everyone was realy tense, then the plane skidded sideways on touchdown and some woman shouted out "Jesus Christ" and everyone nearly wet themsleves! On hindsight though, that was also cool

**paul_oshea** · 04/10/2005, 1:05 PM

i was about 8 or somethign and i was down in achill staying in a caravan the bloody caravan was gooing from side to side and i was saying to my mam at the time, "i wish daddy was here now cos he would be able stop it" LOL, but he would have im telling ye!!!!

i dont remember saying that but i do remember it being extremely winding, with very heavy rain and the thunder seemed like it was coming from just above the roof

**CollegeTillIDie** · 05/10/2005, 8:42 AM

Hurricane Charlie hit Ireland in 1986 it was the worst but I was indoors throughout mainly, Worst I was caught in was a Sunday afternoon downpour in 1995. About the only day it rained the whole summer and I was soaked to the skin watching a soccer game.

**joeSoap** · 05/10/2005, 10:59 AM

I came home hammered drunk at 4 in the afternoon the day Robbie Keane equalised against Germany. I was supposed to be going out to dinner with me mots family to celebrate some birthday or other, and passed out on the couch.

I was awoken by roars and screams the likes of which I never heard before, that actually shook the walls of the apartment. 'Hurricane Jenny' I called it.
Shocking experience.

**superfrank** · 05/10/2005, 1:13 PM

Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Hurricane Charlie hit Ireland in 1986

So that couldn't have been the one I got caught in. I wasn't even born!

**finlma** · 05/10/2005, 4:20 PM

Originally Posted by ZoolEire

your a fuc(kin muppet,
did you ever hear that water and electricity dont mix?

The storm was miles away. We could see the lightning way in the distance.

**Thunderblaster** · 07/10/2005, 7:44 AM

Originally Posted by finlma

The storm was miles away. We could see the lightning way in the distance.

Check up websites on lightning safety. Anyone that goes swimming with lightning in the area is either brave or is just being an idiot. I could have picked up The Star some morning and read " Irish Tourist Killed By Lightning While Swimming in Thailand Beach" or a right wing British paper would have wrote "Thick Mick Goes For Swim In Thunderstorm; Killed By Lightning".

**Troy.McClure** · 07/10/2005, 11:56 AM

Did anyone see Conan O'Brien last night with the Lightening Safety skit? "I'll KILL you!"

**Thunderblaster** · 30/10/2005, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by Troy.McClure

Did anyone see Conan O'Brien last night with the Lightening Safety skit? "I'll KILL you!"

Tell me more about the series.

**Thunderblaster** · 31/10/2005, 12:19 PM

I have to admit tht I was a very naught boy yesterday.

I was browsing on the internet when there was a flash of lightning, followed by a rap of thunder.

Lucky enough, my modem did not get sozzled by the lightning.

I think that my punishment is that I shall die by a lightning strike while browsing the internet.

**Thunderblaster** · 31/10/2005, 12:53 PM

A couple of people mentioned Hurricane Charlie. I was 10 at the time it happened and there was no thunder. However, there were some nasty thunderstorms from the 26th-30th June 1986 and I remember the one on the morning of the 27th June 1986 and there were some pretty violent raps of thunder that morning and the rain bucketed. The storm was from 7:30 to about 9:00 and it was the last day of school.