[BucFan]

wow...what a beautiful Florida day today was - don't think I broke out into a sweat much during a midday golf round......now getting torrential rain -----good for the lawn, golf course, shrubbery etc.

meanwhile, heat in the northern states is making national news.....feel bad for the elderly up there without air conditioning, but gotta feel good about our weather down here.....not too hot, just right.

[Sunshinecc]

I have a question and no doubt this was discussed and answered before but admittedly, when searching with the word lightning, it brings up so many posts it would take forever to sift through.

Given the vast difference in horizons of the northeast (and elsewhere) vs. FL, I know you can see storms brewing and moving miles away (I saw it first hand). So, let's say you're on the beach, it's beautiful and sunny yet, off in the distance is darkness and you can see a storm traveling.

At what point do you become unsafe and in the line of fire for lightning?

This may be a very silly question to those who live down there but for someone who is used to a completely different landscape, I honestly have no clue when to, well, when to get the heck inside.

[BucFan]

I usually head for the car when I see the dark clouds off in the distance approaching. I think lately the clouds have been coming from the inland and moving toward the coast, but I may be wrong. These weather experts can explain more, but from my point of view, you can't be too careful and cautious when lightning is in the area. I've heard that even on the peripheral areas of a storm, you're at risk. I'm talking 10 miles out.

[BucFan]

This was tragic - happened this year. This lady should have sought cover long before the storm hit, shouldn't she have?

Lightning strike kills Brandon woman in Belleair Beach | Breaking Tampa Bay, Florida and national news and weather from Tampa Bay Online and The Tampa Tribune | TBO.com

[Sunshinecc]

10 miles? Wow. But I completely agree - there's no messing around. And it is something I will need to reset in my mind and get used to.

Thinking about it though, it seems that I, and tons of others, have been damn lucky. all the years of playing ball, the general rule of thumb has been as soon as the ump sees lightning, game is called. But our fields are shielded by lots of trees, or buildings, or both. And we're surrounded by metal fencing and using composite bats. so by that time, I'm sure the storms are pretty close. Sheesh.

[Sunshinecc]

Originally Posted by BucFan

This was tragic - happened this year. This lady should have sought cover long before the storm hit, shouldn't she have?

Lightning strike kills Brandon woman in Belleair Beach | Breaking Tampa Bay, Florida and national news and weather from Tampa Bay Online and The Tampa Tribune | TBO.com

Very very sad. And yes, it sounds like she should have. Wow.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by Sunshinecc

10 miles? Wow.

I'm sure some of the weather experts on this message board will chime in - but I'm very conservative and get the heck out of dodge - especially on golf courses where your clubs act as lightning rods. I've been in a lot of close calls - shouldn't have placed myself in being in a storm while golfing.

[The Villages Guy]

Originally Posted by BucFan

I'm sure some of the weather experts on this message board will chime in - but I'm very conservative and get the heck out of dodge - especially on golf courses where your clubs act as lightning rods. I've been in a lot of close calls - shouldn't have placed myself in being in a storm while golfing.

Given how fast the storms build and move here, I act when either I see lightning anywhere, here thunder from anywhere or see the dark clouds building. I am with you that one can never be too careful. I have been careless myself at times and I will try to be more careful going forward. But this is my opinion and I completely understand that other people may have different tolerances than I do.

[Not_liking_FL]

Originally Posted by Sunshinecc

I have a question and no doubt this was discussed and answered before but admittedly, when searching with the word lightning, it brings up so many posts it would take forever to sift through.

Given the vast difference in horizons of the northeast (and elsewhere) vs. FL, I know you can see storms brewing and moving miles away (I saw it first hand). So, let's say you're on the beach, it's beautiful and sunny yet, off in the distance is darkness and you can see a storm traveling.

At what point do you become unsafe and in the line of fire for lightning?

This may be a very silly question to those who live down there but for someone who is used to a completely different landscape, I honestly have no clue when to, well, when to get the heck inside.

The general rule is if you can hear thunder you're at risk.

[Spring Hillian]

Why dont you become a snow bird?

Originally Posted by CHASLS2

It all feels about the same to me from late May till early Oct. Nasty and hot.