Lightening

[LomUmp]

Originally Posted by johnSandlin

crowder,

If I wanted a science lesson, I would have emailed a local television station in my area and talked their weather person.

Plus, you can have either or. It just happened at my house not 48 hours ago before a storm blew through. There was just lightning for a while with no thunder. Then, there was no lightning, but thunder was heard.

You do not need one to have the other. This is an officiating forum and not a science class.

I was merely stating a statement that was posted on our state's athletic association website.

Hey all,

First point, I wouldn't get weather advise from a TV weather person EVER!! They get their information from REAL weather forecasters and observers. (Military, NWS, and/or NOAA)

Second, Lightning is caused by differently charged ions interacting with each other on a grand enough scale to cause a static discharge. That is what causes lightning and lightning follows the path of least resistance in determining where it goes. Since these particles CANNOT BE SEEN, there is no way to determine where the lightning will travel to. THAT is what make lightning so dangerous.

Generally speaking thunder will be heard between 4-6 seconds per mile of distance after the lightning occurs. Air temperature and relative humidity are major, but not the only, factors.

If you are wondering about my credibility, I spent 10 years in the USAF as a weather observer (what's going on now) and forecaster (what's going on now AND in the future). I did this in New Mexico, Alaska (Yes, There are thunderstorms there!), Illinois, Southern California, Persian Gulf, and last but not least, Mississippi.

The statement you made that I quoted in bold is wrong AND irresponsible.

LomUmp

[Publius]

Lightening is a good indicator that you may be able to resume a game that has been suspended due to lightning. My experience has been that lightning is generally preceded by darkening. When the atmospheric disturbance moves away from the field, typically the lightning goes with it, and that is followed by lightening.

Of course, if the lightning is observed near dusk, it may be succeeded by darkening instead of lightening. In this case, darkening may be an indicator that the game can be resumed. That's only on fields with lights, though.

And if the field got an extreme soakening, it doesn't matter if lightning is followed by lightening, darkening, or whether there are lights. Field conditions will likely preclude resumption of play.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Publius

Lightening is a good indicator that you may be able to resume a game that has been suspended due to lightning. My experience has been that lightning is generally preceded by darkening. When the atmospheric disturbance moves away from the field, typically the lightning goes with it, and that is followed by lightening.

Of course, if the lightning is observed near dusk, it may be succeeded by darkening instead of lightening. In this case, darkening may be an indicator that the game can be resumed. That's only on fields with lights, though.

And if the field got an extreme soakening, it doesn't matter if lightning is followed by lightening, darkening, or whether there are lights. Field conditions will likely preclude resumption of play.

Thank you for enlightning us.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Location: Hell

Is that near Gregory?