The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes were
extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a fraction
of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the closest one
hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant before the
crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may be because I
was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the time. I don't
think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?

John.

On 11/07/2012 13:25, Togless wrote:
The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes
were extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a
fraction of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the
closest one hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant
before the crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may
be because I was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the
time. I don't think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?

John.

I've only experienced that sort of thing once, high up on a mountain
during my first visit to the Swiss Alps, above Sass Fe.

We were holed up in a bivi sheltering from the afternoon storm when
hairs started to stand on end and carabiners etc started, kind of,
fizzing. It was the full-on, St Elmos Fire experience!!

I've been in thunderstorms in the mountains since but not had anything
quite like that again.

And yes, I was scared!!!!

Cheers

Neil

On 2012-07-11, Neil wrote:
On 11/07/2012 13:25, Togless wrote:
I've only experienced that sort of thing once, high up on a mountain
during my first visit to the Swiss Alps, above Sass Fe.

We were holed up in a bivi sheltering from the afternoon storm when
hairs started to stand on end and carabiners etc started, kind of,
fizzing. It was the full-on, St Elmos Fire experience!!

I've been in thunderstorms in the mountains since but not had anything
quite like that again.

And yes, I was scared!!!!

A long time ago (25 years, ish) I was at home when lightning struck
about 100yds away. What I remember most was that the FM radio I was
listening to faded out completely several seconds before the strike.

Some sort of ionisation effect perhaps?

Jim
--
"A few ground rules - no bombing, no running, no petting, no diving and
no inflatables. In fact, probably best to leave all swimming related
activities until later - this is, after all, an operating theatre."
Mac, 'Green Wing' Twitter:@GreyAreaUK

Togless wrote:

I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant before the
crash of thunder

The last time I heard that sort of a noise during a thunderstorm was the
sound of my modem frying, along with my cordless phones!
--
MCC

"MCC" wrote in message
. ..
Togless wrote:

I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant before the
crash of thunder

The last time I heard that sort of a noise during a thunderstorm was the
sound of my modem frying, along with my cordless phones!

Ooh-err, that's not good!

Togless wrote:
The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes
were extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a
fraction of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the
closest one hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant
before the crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may
be because I was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the
time. I don't think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?

John.


Just once when I think it was a supercell storm came over us, about 20
years ago. It was in the night, and terrifying experience with
lightning strikes very nearby and booming thunder. During the worse
part of the storm I went tingly, the door bell rang by itself about 3
0r 4 times. The thunder shook the whole of the house.

Not an experience I want to repeat, the power of nature really is awesome.

Joe
Wolverhampton
175m ASL.

On 11/07/2012 13:25, Togless wrote:
The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes
were extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a
fraction of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the
closest one hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant
before the crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may
be because I was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the
time. I don't think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?

John.


Yes, several times. Some years ago thunder storms were almost a daily
occurrence here in Northampton, and on several occasions we had very
close strikes. On each occasion, the "fizz and crackle" as you describe
coincided with the lightning strike itself, equally audible indoors or
out. Then after a short delay came the bang, which was very apparent as
being a "reflection" or "echo" bouncing off nearby buildings. The "fizz
and crackle" is the noise of the electric discharge, which I remember
from university when we were playing around with high voltage discharges
and arcs.

If you're close enough your hair will literally "stand up on end", not
just on your head, but over the rest of your body too. And if it hits
you, it bloody hurts. I know that from experience!!!

jim, Northampton

On 11/07/2012 23:50, jbm wrote:
On 11/07/2012 13:25, Togless wrote:
The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes
were extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a
fraction of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the
closest one hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant
before the crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may
be because I was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the
time. I don't think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?

John.


Yes, several times. Some years ago thunder storms were almost a daily
occurrence here in Northampton, and on several occasions we had very
close strikes. On each occasion, the "fizz and crackle" as you describe
coincided with the lightning strike itself, equally audible indoors or
out. Then after a short delay came the bang, which was very apparent as
being a "reflection" or "echo" bouncing off nearby buildings. The "fizz
and crackle" is the noise of the electric discharge, which I remember
from university when we were playing around with high voltage discharges
and arcs.

If you're close enough your hair will literally "stand up on end", not
just on your head, but over the rest of your body too. And if it hits
you, it bloody hurts. I know that from experience!!!

jim, Northampton

Presumably the high voltages discharge that hit you Jim was under 30mA.
I was taught in an electronic course, that 30mA is the highest amount of
electric flow that the human body can sustain without being fatal.
Though I wouldn’t like to test that theory. The fizz and crackle are
like my bug zapper but on a much larger scale.


Joe
Wolverhampton.

On Thursday, July 12, 2012 8:34:04 AM UTC+1, Joe Egginton wrote:
On 11/07/2012 23:50, jbm wrote:
> On 11/07/2012 13:25, Togless wrote:
>> The thunderstorm which livened up Fareham and Brighton also passed right
>> over my house to the north of Portsmouth - four or five of the strikes
>> were extremely close with the lightning and thunder separated by only a
>> fraction of a second. The really interesting thing was that when the
>> closest one hit, I'm very sure I heard a fizz or crackle just an instant
>> before the crash of thunder - never experienced that before, but it may
>> be because I was (perhaps unwisely!) standing out in the garden at the
>> time. I don't think I was imagining it - anyone else had that experience?
>>
>> John.
>
>
> Yes, several times. Some years ago thunder storms were almost a daily
> occurrence here in Northampton, and on several occasions we had very
> close strikes. On each occasion, the "fizz and crackle" as you describe
> coincided with the lightning strike itself, equally audible indoors or
> out. Then after a short delay came the bang, which was very apparent as
> being a "reflection" or "echo" bouncing off nearby buildings. The "fizz
> and crackle" is the noise of the electric discharge, which I remember
> from university when we were playing around with high voltage discharges
> and arcs.
>
> If you're close enough your hair will literally "stand up on end", not
> just on your head, but over the rest of your body too. And if it hits
> you, it bloody hurts. I know that from experience!!!
>
> jim, Northampton

Presumably the high voltages discharge that hit you Jim was under 30mA.
I was taught in an electronic course, that 30mA is the highest amount of
electric flow that the human body can sustain without being fatal.
Though I wouldn’t like to test that theory. The fizz and crackle are
like my bug zapper but on a much larger scale.



It's 30 mA through the heart causing fibrillation - basically the heart's muscle cells lose synchronisation. A defibrillator will usually restore regular rhythm. Anything approaching 1000mA will cause cell/tissue damage and this is irreversible. Your body can tolerate 30mA if the heart is not "in circuit" - foot to knee, for example.

Most ELCBs or RCD's (Earth leakage circuit breakers or residual current detectors) you purchase from DIY stores to use on your lawnmower etc are set to trip at 30mA.

MartinR


Joe
Wolverhampton.

On 12/07/2012 08:34, Joe Egginton wrote:


Presumably the high voltages discharge that hit you Jim was under 30mA.
I was taught in an electronic course, that 30mA is the highest amount of
electric flow that the human body can sustain without being fatal.
Though I wouldn’t like to test that theory. The fizz and crackle are
like my bug zapper but on a much larger scale.


Joe
Wolverhampton.



It didn't actually hit me full on. I was on the side of a hill carrying
out a field survey, and the surveying instrument I was using was one of
the new Japanese models. Old Swiss instruments used wooden tripods, but
the Japs used metal, thank goodness. The lightning hit dead centre on
the instrument, and at the time I had the back of my hand resting on the
legs. I remember the strike itself, and the associated acoustics, but
not being hurled up into the air and being flung 20 feet further down
the slope, as I was told by those who saw the whole episode. The
instrument was a complete molten mass, and the legs resembled freshly
cooked spaghetti, having taken the full force of the strike. I lost the
hair off the back of my hand and had a distinct singed aroma about me
for the rest of the day. Everyone laughed at my new hairstyle which
didn't settle down for a couple of hours. These days it would be
described as the "Jedward Look". Thanks to the Japanese I live to tell
the tale.

jim, Northampton