Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby for over 8 years, you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
By Colleen Fielding
In my article Boy, someone is confused. I was still at home writing the paper that day, I had not left the house at the time, until later that day going into Vernon with a friend. During my walk, I saw some of the damage that the snowstorm had caused here at the park. Trees were split in half, large branches from the trees had come down in almost every yard, there were asphalt shingles blown off the roofs of some homes, one tree had been lifted out of the ground and had smashed into a car window, falling across a person’s trailer. Luckily, the person could back the car out, I am not sure if the storm had caused more damage to the car than what I saw on the windshield, or how much damage was done to their home. When I was out walking I talked to a couple of people that thought they had heard the “thunder snow” as well. They too, had heard the low grumbling very early in the morning. Thunder Snow is a rare occurrence, did it happen here, I can’t tell you that for sure, however it really did sound like it, although there were no reports that I can find of it happening here during our big snowstorm a week ago. Growing up in Ontario, I witnessed thunder snow more than once, but there was only one time I saw lightning with the winter thunderstorm. Seeing lightning anytime can be scary and yet beautiful at the same time as it brightens up the sky and is a great photo shot. When you see the lightning in a winter snowstorm it’s even scarier.
In the summer when you hear a thunderstorm approaching there is often a very loud crack or a big boom sound, with the thunder snow it’s more of a softer rumble. Winter lightning and summer lightning are both dangerous, while the winter lightning can be even more destructive.
Avoid being outside in any season of thunder lightning storms if you can. If you are outside, follow the rules; get shelter in a house or a car with a metal roof, close all the windows, soft top roofs can’t help you. Being inside an enclosed building with plumbing and wiring is safer. While you are inside, be careful not to touch your phone if it’s a landline, don’t touch any plumbing like turning on your water, no baths or showers, leave your computers alone, shut off your tv, touching nothing made of metal. Using battery operated items only.
If there is no shelter, stay low to the ground without hiding under a tree, sheds, picnic, shelters, tents, covered porches will not protect you.
Don’t go near metal fences, or a golf cart, your bicycle, or motorcycle. When indoors, stay away from all of your appliances.
If you are out in the water swimming or boating, get to the shore very quickly, if there is a cabin on your boat stay under it if you can’t get to the shore. If you see someone that has been struck with lightning get them help as soon as possible.
Always remember the 30,30 rule in a thunderstorm no matter what season; Count the seconds, when you hear the thunder within 30 seconds and see lightning, it is too close, find shelter. Wait inside for 30 minutes.
A direct lightning strike is responsible for about 5% of lightning deaths, while 60-80 % of ground current and side flashes count for the rest of injuries and death for lightning related. Ground currents happen when lightning will hit the ground and it spreads out sending a strong current through a person. Side flashes are when lightning will hit a tall object then it will travel partly down the object that the lightning has hit, it will then jump to a nearby person.
Lightning is obviously very dangerous, let’s take safety precautions in a storm.
