Warm enough for you...?

[Phallica2000]

It was ridiculously warm...it's better now though.

[stutterdog]

All this hot weather and it breaking down into thunderstorms as it seems to do after a hot spell prompted memories of my childhood in the late 40's and 50's. Whenever we had a thunderstorm my Dad or Mum would always have the door onto the street open thoughout the storm. When I asked them why they always insisted the door be open. The answer was, in case a thunderbolt came down the chimney and it could escape out the open door! I never really believed this for many years until one day Armley was engulfed by a tremendous storm with vivid flashes of lightening and massive rolls of thunder! I was in the house alone when the house was shaken by a tremendous clap of thunder accompanied by a huge flash. Just after this a round, glowing bue ball came down the chimney and slowly floated across the room and out the door! I couldn't believe what I saw and still have some doubt,but I saw something! Has anyone else on SL had any experience similar to this and does the practice of having the door open in a storm still persist or were my Mum and Dad just superstitious?

[Loiner in Cyprus]

Has anyone else on SL had any experience similar to this and does the practice of having the door open in a storm still persist or were my Mum and Dad just superstitious? My grandad always opened the door during storms to let out any 'thunder bolts'

[shutthatdoor]

I've heard of people leaving a door open and also unplugging the TV aerial during a lightning storm, which makes sense if you get hit by a bolt. My Grandmother used to hide under the stairs during a storm, probably a throwback to the bombing in the war. My Great Grandmother used cover the TV up before getting undressed (if I can see them, they can see me) and failed to understand how electricity didn't escape from the light socket if you took the bulb out.I worked for a spell on Armley Town Street and once during a thunderstorm a bolt of lightning hit a manhole cover outside the shop. I dared not set foot outside after seeing that and my mates Dad drove me home. Ha!

[Steve Jones]

[quotenick="stutterdog"I was in the house alone when the house was shaken by a tremendous clap of thunder accompanied by a huge flash. Just after this a round, glowing bue ball came down the chimney and slowly floated across the room and out the door! I couldn't believe what I saw and still have some doubt,but I saw something! Has anyone else on SL had any experience similar to this and does the practice of having the door open in a storm still persist or were my Mum and Dad just superstitious? What you saw was ball lightning a rare form of lightning thought to consist of plasma.For many years it was doubted by scientists but is now accepted as a rare form.You were lucky as it can explode and do a lot of damage.

[stutterdog]

Steve Jones wrote: [quotenick="stutterdog"I was in the house alone when the house was shaken by a tremendous clap of thunder accompanied by a huge flash. Just after this a round, glowing bue ball came down the chimney and slowly floated across the room and out the door! I couldn't believe what I saw and still have some doubt,but I saw something! Has anyone else on SL had any experience similar to this and does the practice of having the door open in a storm still persist or were my Mum and Dad just superstitious? What you saw was ball lightning a rare form of lightning thought to consist of plasma.For many years it was doubted by scientists but is now accepted as a rare form.You were lucky as it can explode and do a lot of damage.Thanks Steve, I realise I was lucky to escape injury and lucky to see such a phenomenon too. My parents must have known about such things happening though.Thats what's interesting!