What do you think of thunderstorms ?

[WildRosie]

In the UK, we perhaps don't see the same frequency and intensity as in continental Europe but they can still be a spectacle. As a youngster, like many children, I found the sound of thunder quite frightening and my late Mum never got over her dislike of thunderstorms. Now I'm much older and I'm not at all bothered by them but I wouldn't like to be stuck outdoors in the torrential downpours and all hell breaking loose above. From inside, you can appreciate the awesome sight and soundof Mother Nature getting arsey!

The local feral pigeons always seem to know when a storm is brewing. They suddenly take off en masse from the rooftop opposite my home and fly supersonic (or so it appears) to shelter. They are fast fliers anyway but really speed up when the shit is about to hit the fan.

Love a thunderstorm. That feeling just beforehand when everything goes very still and calm and the birds stop making any noise.....so exciting.

The best one I've ever experienced was in Normandy - the constant lightening was like nothing I'd ever seen before (sheet and fork) but there was barely any thunder, just a few quiet rumbles. The kids were asleep and I was all alone on the veranda of the chalet....it was one of the most magical experiences of my life!

I like them very much. The cats are not bothered by them at all, even the kitten was stretched out sleeping during the last one.

I love them.
When I was a child my parents used to let me get up and watch the storms. My sister always slept through them.

I love everything about them.
However, on holiday in France a few years ago everyone was in bed sleeping,
except me, I was still awake when all of a sudden there was the most horrendous clap of thunder right above us. Dh leapt up, all the dc started screaming. I've never heard anything like it. She thought a bomb had gone off.
Once I'd calmed everyone down I went outside and sat on the patio to watch it and it was awesome.

oh yes, lived in st louis for a bit.
the purple 'tornado sky' was spectacular.

the frequent blackouts rather annoying though.

The best place to be during a thunderstorm is indoors with lots of windows and a glass or two of something nice in your hand. That way, you can appreciate nature's ire and drink a toast to her at the same time.

I love them , especially in the U.K where they are usually harmless . I lived in the heart of tornado alley ( USA ) for a bit and that can be scary/exciting, more on the side of scary.

Same here in Florida for the TV programming, especially if tornadoes are spotted. We don't have as much risk for tornadoes as in the midwest, but we usually get at least one take cover alert on our phones each summer.

Technology has made a huge difference in preparation and safety. Years ago when our children were small we were out in a small boat when a storm came up from nowhere. That was really scary. Now we have weather radar on our phones so we can check constantly, plus having alerts.

In Venice, me and my eldest (he was 10 then) went out for a walk one evening to watch the sun set and a massive thunderstorm started. We were soaked through, running down the alleys, laughing, screaming, stopping to watch the waves and the whole sky lighting up. Best memory ever of a storm.

I’ve always loved them, they release the tension.

I adore them, saw a really fascinating documentary once about satellite pictures of thunderstorms and it was amazing - lightning goes up as well as down, and from space you can watch chains of storms interacting across the world. I wish I could find it again, it was well worth a watch!

I enjoy a good thunderstorm but also am very aware of the power of nature and how dangerous they can be. One of my neighbours houses (UK) was hit by lightening about 10 years ago and there was a terrible fire. It was probably 100m from our house as the crow flies.

When I used to visit the US frequently, I was transfixed by the weather channel! So much variety in weather but also a lot of danger between extreme heat/fire, cold/snow, wind via hurricane/tornado. Fascinating if not a little scary.

I absolutely love them and find nothing more relaxing, but at the same time I always feel bad for anyone who’s homeless :(

Sometimes adore them sometimes am terrified!!! When we were young we’d all sleep in the same room on storm nights. Our electricity usually went (as an adult it’s only gone one?!) On holiday abroad experienced the worst thunder and lightning storm I ever even imagined though-were sitting in a mobile home with what sounded like someone bashing drums and the lightning constantly flashing. The next day the local people weren’t that fussed, we couldn’t believe it!!!!

Love them.
We've had 3 stonkers where I live in the southeast in the last couple of months.
More please!

I love them.

Just not when I’m at work though thank you. I don’t like them then.

I love a good thunderstorm, but my cats hate them. Which is actually good because it means they all come in for cuddles with me!

If it's just a thunderstorm and a bit of rain they are quite relaxing, and as you say are a minor display of the raw power of nature.

We're very lucky in the UK that the vast majority of our storms aren't all that intense. If they regularly caused the destruction some do then K doubt we'd be so positive towards them.

My MIL is terrified of storms, but then her father was killed by lightning when she was young, so she has felt the worst possible outcome of what they can do. I was also caught up in the storms in Southern Europe in 2014 which affected large parts of Serbia and Romania, including taking out roads and a death toll iirc in the hundreds. That wasn't fun to be out driving in that, and I can't imagine it was much fun being inside either.

A little UK summer thunderstorm though, lovely.

They are very intriguing, especially red sprites.

I love them.

Any other 80's kids who were ordered away from the television when one happened?!

"Get away from that television"

"But 'The Raccoons' are on, Mum"?

"Get away from it now" hisssssss

😂

I used to love them until about ten years ago when there were several different strikes a few streets apart here. They caused really bad damage. One whole terrace of houses lost their roofs. It was during the day and I could smell the burning when I went to pick up DC from school.

I love them.

Doncaster yes always TV off at the mains and not allowed to use the telephone in an electrical storm or 'it'll blow your brains out" at least that's what my DM used to say😂. Although I think the reason behind tv off was due to the aerial being made of metal and standing tall meant it could attract a lightening strike. No idea about the telephone though, or why DM was convinced it would "blow our brains out"!
I love a good storm, when I lived in the south of France I enjoyed some really tremendous storms (although hail stones the size of golf balls weren't so good!). UK storms definitely feel tame by comparison.

Rod Hull discovered that, the hard way.

Nope. Don't like them. I didn't used to mind them but when I was growing up I was in the house with just my brother and our house got hit by lightning and it blew all the plaster out as it went down the wires to the light switches and tried to set fire to the carpet behind the TV as it must've come down the aerial too. Terrifying!

I LOVE a thunderstorm! I love the sound and the smell. I love watching lightning. I enjoy counting the time gaps and hearing the storm come closer. I watch storms on the app “my lightning tracker”