Had an interesting (and scary) experience with a lightning storm this weekend. No strikes near us and none on the water, not even to freighters and tugs traveling the waterway, but lots on the land at 2 miles and farther away, across a mile-wide river. However, one isolated, freaky cloud-to-cloud stroke directly overhead (flash and "crackle" were simultaneous) really put us into panic mode! We were headed directly toward the shore when the storm began, and hustled off the water to shelter ASAP, but this developed so quickly I am curious about the experiences of others. We rarely get lightning storms in Western Oregon where I live, so it is not a major hazard for us, but it must be a regular occurrence for others. Stories? -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_seasurf.com> > > Had an interesting (and scary) experience with a lightning storm this > weekend. No strikes near us and none on the water, not even to > freighters and tugs traveling the waterway, but lots on the land at 2 > miles and farther away, across a mile-wide river. However, one > isolated, freaky cloud-to-cloud stroke directly overhead (flash and > "crackle" were simultaneous) really put us into panic mode! Lightning can strike several miles away from any rainfall. > We were headed directly toward the shore when the storm began, and > hustled off the water to shelter ASAP, but this developed so quickly I > am curious about the experiences of others. We rarely get lightning > storms in Western Oregon where I live, so it is not a major hazard for > us, but it must be a regular occurrence for others. I'm posting this to GASP, too, because the Gulf of Mexico region is coming into its most deadly season of the year for lightning fatalaties... May, June, July and August. Florida has the most lightning-releated deaths of any state in the country. 85% are water-related. Some time ago, when setting up the weather page for the GASP website and because lightning can be a very real problem when paddling the Gulf of Mexico area, I came across a little site under construction about lightning. It has developed into a large and informative site, especially on weather across the SE United States. It contains information on lightning detection, what causes lightning, safety procedures and statistics on lightning related deaths, and can be found at: http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sercc/publications/lightning_pub.html The main site is: http://water.dnr.state.sc.us/climate/sercc/ This site also has a test you can take to find out what you know or don't know about the weather. > Stories? A few. One in particular was a trip to the barrier islands off the Texas coast with a front that moved in during the middle of the night. For those that don't know, the Texas coast and the barrier islands are flat offering little to no protection. We experienced lightning strikes all around us (no gap between blinding flashes and ear-shattering booms), tents blown down, gear lost to the sea and a lightning storm that raged for about an hour right over us before it finally moved on. Exciting and terrifying. To be expected if you plan to spend much time kayak camping along the Gulf of Mexico coast and SE Atlantic coast, especially in the spring/summer time. Take earplugs, lie low :-) Cheers, Jackie _ _ _ _ _ \\ / \0/ \ / \0/ \ \\ " " `\ ,sSSs,\, )\w/( ,sSS..)/{) <<..> sSSS_v)/ \ )<*> sSS[(\_]___\ <(_/_o_o_ 'sS[_`-+---+) \----+-------+-------'---`-----\-------------') ~~~~~~~ ~~jf ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~\~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ o \ o \\ o o \\ o o ` (\ o o >jf:-) o (/ o *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
dave and wired folks, >so it is not a major hazard for > us, but it must be a regular occurrence for others. Chesapeake Bay is like most places in that thunderstorms tend to occur in the warmer months... when most folks paddle. i have been surprised by t-storms on a couple of occasions. (a) a sunday morning paddle with kathy at our usual tidal river local. we knew that the conditions were right.. but the morning was sunny and we wanted to go. i did *not* check the local radar before we left home. on the river, i heard the low frequency rumble ... and stupildy thought that it was the usual millitary bombing of an island on the bay.... trees along the river blocked a good view of the horizon... so the storm got real close before we responded to get off the water *now* (b) evening paddle on another local river, new boat, second outing. trying to act like fast eddy paddling with another guy who had a similar boat for sometime. we knew that the weather was right for t-storms... but we went anyway.... it is no fun paddling with lightning all round... trees and dusk masked the clouds so that we did not appreciate that the storm was so close. what i learned.... (a) look at the radar before paddling; (b) be careful when trees or night type of skys don't allow long views, (c) lightening all around scares me, (d) don't paddle just because i want to paddle, (e) use my weather radio more often. AND in the john winter's logic mode: paddle a tandem and be sure that your partner is taller than you, or if he/she is shorter, have them stand up... are you with me John? stormy conditions here tonight... bye bye bliven *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Larry wrote; - >AND in the john winter's logic mode: paddle a tandem and be sure that your >partner is taller than you, or if he/she is shorter, have them stand up... >are you with me John? Absolutely, I have the bow person hold a copper wire overhead and trail it in the water. That way I can do all the paddling while the rest and hold up the wire. I assure them that the lightning will travel down the wire and be dissipated in the water. I have never lost a partner to lightning. Most partners appreciate my consideration. If one studies the movement and formation of thunderstorms it is possible to minimise your contact with them especially when on the water. Of course, Florida is another problem. Lived and sailed in Tampa (the lightning capital of the world so they say and so I believe) and boats struck by lightning weren't all that common given the number of strikes but it still scares one. Once I was installing some electronics on a mast at the yacht club when a storm passed. The owner who had winched me up the mast was in the club having a drink and either forgot I was out there or thought he could avoid paying his bill. No strikes but you sure learn how to control your bowels when you are top man on the lightning rod. Lightning isn't often a problem since most discharges are in the cloud layer rather than to the surface. Like tornadoes are drawn to trailer parks, lightning seems to be drawn to golfers. I guess one could protect oneself by always paddling with a golfer. In the lake region you can paddle in the zone of protection most of the time. I have had a strike no more than fifty yards away and could smell the ozone. Makes you jump a bit. Have never had a storm sneak up on me though. When you sail in Florida you learn to know what conditions will breed thunderbumpers. My friend at Environment Canada says that "if the thunder bumpers don't build before two in the afternoon they aren't likely to make it at all" So far that seems to be valid. Just keep and eye on the clouds. They are high and easy to see if they are building. It takes about an hour for a thunderhead to build and usually (unless you are well offshore) that is enough time to get to shore. Of course, I have heard people say the storm just popped up out of nowhere but that is just a failure to watch the sky and listen to the weather reports. Far more dangerous than the lightning is the wind and wind shift that precedes a storm. The weather forecast can't predict exactly where thunder storms will be as they are highly localised but if they say that conditions are ripe to breed them you should think twice about going paddling and, if you do, stay close to shore. If you see cumulus clouds starting to build (don't have to be an expert to recognise that) then get your fanny back near shore. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
John, There is a story in 'SEA KAYAKER' Oct. 1996 Vol 13 NO.4 titled 'BAHAMA TRAUMA'. This story gives an account of Miguel Hernandez's experience of a lightening encounter while paddling through a 101-mile open water crossing through the Florida Straits to Cuba. He tells of the following event Twelve hours out of Stock Island, outside of Key West: ..... "the first storm hit. Bolts of lightning cut the black horizon. From the cockpit, through curtins of rain, Hernandez began to notice a loud, continuous crackling. Then for the next forty-five minutes, green sparks shot from the tips of his paddle. It was pretty , he says. And I thought I was going to get electrocuted." Now, just what are the possibilities if one happens to be paddling a nylon skinned, aluminum framed kayak under such circumstances. Should there be cause for alarm or does one just reconcille themselves to the idea that they just might be sitting in an electric toaster? %^) I am slightly concerned here. Cheers, Philip ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ John Winters wrote: > > Larry wrote; > > - > >AND in the john winter's logic mode: paddle a tandem and be sure that your > >partner is taller than you, or if he/she is shorter, have them stand up... > >are you with me John? > > Absolutely, I have the bow person hold a copper wire overhead and trail it > in the water. That way I can do all the paddling while the rest and hold up > the wire. I assure them that the lightning will travel down the wire and be > dissipated in the water. I have never lost a partner to lightning. Most > partners appreciate my consideration. > > If one studies the movement and formation of thunderstorms it is possible > to minimise your contact with them especially when on the water. Of course, > Florida is another problem. Lived and sailed in Tampa (the lightning > capital of the world so they say and so I believe) and boats struck by > lightning weren't all that common given the number of strikes but it still > scares one. > > Once I was installing some electronics on a mast at the yacht club when a > storm passed. The owner who had winched me up the mast was in the club > having a drink and either forgot I was out there or thought he could avoid > paying his bill. > > No strikes but you sure learn how to control your bowels when you are top > man on the lightning rod. > > Lightning isn't often a problem since most discharges are in the cloud > layer rather than to the surface. Like tornadoes are drawn to trailer > parks, lightning seems to be drawn to golfers. I guess one could protect > oneself by always paddling with a golfer. In the lake region you can > paddle in the zone of protection most of the time. I have had a strike no > more than fifty yards away and could smell the ozone. Makes you jump a bit. > > Have never had a storm sneak up on me though. When you sail in Florida you > learn to know what conditions will breed thunderbumpers. My friend at > Environment Canada says that "if the thunder bumpers don't build before two > in the afternoon they aren't likely to make it at all" So far that seems to > be valid. Just keep and eye on the clouds. They are high and easy to see if > they are building. It takes about an hour for a thunderhead to build and > usually (unless you are well offshore) that is enough time to get to shore. > Of course, I have heard people say the storm just popped up out of nowhere > but that is just a failure to watch the sky and listen to the weather > reports. > > Far more dangerous than the lightning is the wind and wind shift that > precedes a storm. > > The weather forecast can't predict exactly where thunder storms will be as > they are highly localised but if they say that conditions are ripe to breed > them you should think twice about going paddling and, if you do, stay close > to shore. If you see cumulus clouds starting to build (don't have to be an > expert to recognise that) then get your fanny back near shore. > > Cheers, > John Winters > Redwing Designs > Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft > http://home.ican.net/~735769/ > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
John Winters wrote: > MAJOR SNIP< > Far more dangerous than the lightning is the wind and wind shift that > precedes a storm. > I'll have to agree! This past thursday I was paddling on a New Mexico lake called Santa Rosa. I was on a three day trip up the Pecos river via this lake. Mid afternoon found me just outside the mouth of the river, paddling close along the lea side of a long narrow island. The temperture was in the low 80s and a few clouds were forming. None looked too threating, but there was some verga sp?(rain falling but not reaching the ground). Wind had been light and out of the SSW. Nothing unusual here. I was in an "aleut" folbot. Spray cover under bungee on bow deck. All at once it hit me, a blast of air from the NW! It was VERY strong and sudden. I was within 10 feet of the rocky cliffs of the island and being blown right at them. I turned into the wind and growing waves, knowing I had to put enough distance from the cliffs before the waves got too high, so I could put my spray cover on.(it's a snap on affair and takes a moment or two) The waves were capping and lots of spray coming off them. I had to pace my speed to the waves to keep from taking on water and all the while watching over my shoulder to make sure I wasn't getting blown back into the rocks. About the time I had managed to gain maybe 100' from the rocks(still not far enough to put the skirt on), the wind quit. Five mins. later there wasn't a hint of what had just happened. That was the worse case of wind shear I have ever been caught in on the water. A new found respect was born for me that day! James PS: there had been no sign of wind coming, from where I was, and there had been no thunder heard. Infact, the clouds didn't look bad to me at all. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
John Winters Wrote: >Absolutely, I have the bow person hold a copper wire overhead and trail it >in the water. That way I can do all the paddling while the rest and hold up >the wire. I assure them that the lightning will travel down the wire and be >dissipated in the water. I have never lost a partner to lightning. Most >partners appreciate my consideration. It sounds like the best thing to do is to sail a kite with a metal key, ala Ben Franklin style. For the electronic minded maybe a quick charging system could be developed for all those that need batteries to run their pumps and laptops. With all those megawatts of energy tapping off a little shouldn't be too hard. Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any injuries that result in testing from the ideas presented above. Brian. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Philip wrote; (SNIP) >Now, just what are the possibilities if one happens to >be paddling a nylon skinned, aluminum framed kayak under >such circumstances. Should there be cause for alarm or >does one just reconcille themselves to the idea that >they just might be sitting in an electric toaster? %^) >I am slightly concerned here. If one is at sea in a really small boat like a kayak and no place to land I am not sure there is anything one can do . I get the impression (Maybe wrongly) that lightning is inscrutable. Cheers, John Winters Redwing Designs Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft http://home.ican.net/~735769/ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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