Raiden wins.

[prog]

This crazy-violent fast storm that just blew over (and out of) Boston had positive lightning in it! I didn't know about the existence of this phenomenon until now.

I saw two strange, long-lived, brilliantly purple lightning bolts and asked weather-nerd kyroraz what they were, and he told me. "It's really bad stuff", he added. "Do not get hit by it."

Comments

Footnotes

[kyroraz.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a bit jealous that you got to see it. I haven't yet in all my time doing thunderstorm tracking and the occasional chasing. I haven't done that in a while.

Positive lightning is rare. 2% of lightning strikes is positive, and, it comes from the anvils/tops of the clouds. It's hot, nasty, and there is no chance to survive. Make your time, if you're hit.

But I think that the big boom that was purported to "take out" starbucks was a positive strike. I haven't heard thunder quite like that since Arizona.

Mind you, getting hit by ANY lightning is bad and in fact, one shouldn't do what I used to do quite often, which is stand out somewhere neutrally safe and watch the storm. However, there is a moderate to low chance of survival with regular lightning. So far, no one has survived a positive strike.

However, there HAVE been close calls. Like this: http://205.243.100.155/frames/longarc.htm#Pos-Lightning1

[dictator555.livejournal.com]

I went out on the front porch to watch the storm and also saw the crazy purple lightning. It was close enough and scary enough that I scampered back inside, even though I'm not usually afraid of lightning at all.

[radiotelescope.livejournal.com]

When I said "I think that took out Starbucks" I wasn't serious. I was just reacting to the fact that it was *close* and roughly in that direction.

Plus, if it really *did* hit Starbucks (I haven't checked), I add to my already awesome reputation. You have to set these things up sometimes.

I noted the lack of seriousness.

[kyroraz.livejournal.com]

Quoted things usually are tags of not serious or other context for me, I dunno. :) It was not marked to be as literal.

thunder

[(Anonymous)]

I love lightning storms, but the thunder from that storm was CRAZY LOUD AND LONG. Like Thor was displeased with the activities at Fenway Park last night.

Since I didn't perceive a delay between the light and the sound, I assume what I heard was close by. It is possible that this was the positive lightning you referred to. I'd love to see links to stories about this local storm.

[chocorisu.livejournal.com]

Woah, I never heard of that before. Scary stuff.