Thunderstorm

Thunderstorm (iPod version) [ 5:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (722)

Thunderstorm (AppleTV version) [ 5:00 ] Download (571)

It’s monsoon season here in Phoenix, and last night I was awakened by an incredible ka-BOOM! I ran out to the back porch and encountered a number of things: a terrified cat meowing piteously; rising water threatening our wash room; a sopping wet husband clearing a drainage hole with a two-by-four; and the most stunning downpour I’ve seen in years, complete with lightning show and deafening thunder.

So, did I heroically rush to my husband’s aid, or stop to comfort the cat? No. I ran for my video camera.

This footage shot on my Xacti HD1A, which is crummy in low light and does not get the best audio. In fact, the audio is my biggest disappointment. The thunder was so loud the Xacti just couldn’t handle it, so you’ll hear distortion instead of multilayered crackly surround-sound thunder. But you can imagine it. Just think back to the first time you heard really loud thunder as a kid. That’s it.

I let the camera roll for 15 minutes. For that entire time there was a lightning strike approximately every 30 seconds. I’ve condensed it down to 10-15 seconds apart rather than subject anyone to a 15 minute video. It’s still too long, but weather nuts like me will probably enjoy it.

Funny stuff happened during the storm. Note the screen shot from the video. That lightning is between me and my back fence less than 30 yards away. (You can’t see it in the small version of the video, which is why there’s an AppleTV version for download.) Yet we can’t find any trace of the strike in our yard. The power went out for a split second, but not long enough to reset most of our clocks. But when it came back on our evaporative cooler started up of its own accord and pressurized the house. We thought it was wind blowing through the attic until we noticed the AC unit wouldn’t stop running. Eventually we sorted everything out, but we didn’t get back to sleep until 4am. The neighbors with dogs definitely had it worse. The stray cat that lives outside is all fluffy and clean now, and all the plants are happy plants today.