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Wild Weather Around the World

Thunderstorm Lovin'

Living in Florida I have learned to love thunderstorms. I love to see the dark clouds rolling in and the distant flashes of lightening. I like to hear the rustle of the trees as the downdraft breeze picks up. Then smelling the damp, mossy scents as the rain starts to fall and the obscure lightning flashes become defined jagged bolts. The roar of the rain as it pounds against the sidewalks and roofs and roads crescendos as the storm passes over and the crack of the thunderclaps becomes more and more frequent. Then the storm moves on and the rain lets up to a drizzle and the thunder becomes only an intermittent rumble in the distance. Everything is wet and green and vibrant as a typical Florida thunderstorm retreats.

I’ve probably experienced thousands of thunderstorms in my life as a native Floridian, because Florida is the thunderstorm capital of the U.S. I’m from Orlando and according to FloridaDisaster.org the interior of central Florida receives the most thunderstorms with nearly 100 plus days per year. No wonder I’m so used to thunderstorms! .

The best part about thunderstorms is how brief, yet violent they are. It can be exhilarating to experience a severe aspect of nature, but not have to deal with the devastating effects of weather occurrences like hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and floods. Although I believe thunderstorms are fun and exciting (except of course when you have outdoor activities planned), it’s important for people to understand the danger of these storms. About 10 percent of Florida thunderstorms produce dangerous winds or hail that exceed thresholds known to cause significant damage to well-built structures or cause bodily harm. Along with being the thunderstorm capital of the U.S., Florida also has the most lightning related deaths and injuries in the country with a staggering total of 1,523 between 1959 and 2004. So while I definitely think you should take the time to enjoy a thunderstorm, please do it safely!