At least according to every Facebook and Twitter newsfeed I happened to lay eyes on last night. Everyone had something to say about the thunder, either regarding how awesome or terrifying it was, but the most striking sentiment came from a friend’s FB post:
It made me realize that in the 6 or 7 years I’ve lived in SF myself as well, I can’t exactly remember experiencing a thunderstorm either. I guess they just don’t happen here ever? I could have sworn that they were commonplace when living in Berkeley before that, but perhaps that’s an invented memory too. At the very least, nature’s sonic performance last night finally gave all the East Coasters and Midwesterners something to be smug about!
[Photo by trophygeek]
Previously:
Perhaps because the entire front of my apartment is windows or due to the expansive view of downtown and the east bay sky (stupid view blocking hospital) viewing lightning is not at all uncommon, last nite was not even the most impressive. It was by far the brightest I have seen but I’ve watched storms with much more frequent lightning strikes. This was nothing new, put down the PBR and look up once in a while people.
Uh probably not d-bag.
This comment is ill placed. My bad.
When I lived in Berkeley and then San Bruno from 1998-2001 there were quite a few spectacular thunderstorms, but since then there have been very few — and definitely none as intense or lengthy as last night. I think it goes in cycles, but the cycles are long, like the drought cycles.
there have DEFINITELY been thunderstorms in the last 6 or 7 years, no question. this was just your friends excuse to tell everyone in facebook he has lived here for 6 or 7 years. good job!
mine too!
While there may have been others in not too distant history, this was definitely the biggest boomer I’ve experienced in the bay area. And like most folks, I loved it. I’m yet another Midwestern transplant and big thunderstorms is the one piece of weather I miss. There’s something really comforting about enjoying the flashes and booms from a blanket covered couch or a warm bed.
I have lived here over 40 years and never experienced T&L like last night. Never. That first hit of thunder felt like a quake.
“T&L” is the best abbreviation for a weather event ever.
If it avoids having to look at people spelling it “lightening,” I’ll take it.
There was definitely one two years ago.
I was just about to say this! It was in the earlyish evening and I was stuck downtown when it happened.
Emily knows whats uppppppppppp
Yeah. That one two years ago was a lot shorter, but a few of the bolts seemed like they were right on Valencia Street.
It’s not the length of the storm, Sweet T, it’s the size of the bolt…
on Dr. Fart’s ding-a-ling.
Uh yeah. I barely noticed anything last night. But then again, I come from DFW, where they just witnessed semi trucks getting tossed around like rag dolls a couple weekends ago.
first bay area thunderstorm I’ve been in where it shook the house
I remember this one notable kaboom from a few years ago.
http://avramc.posterous.com/thunder-in-san-francisco-836-am-91209-0
would love to get a hi-res copy of that sutro shot! Is this via flickr or somepin? tia
Thunderstorms happen every year — and running MonkeyBrains with wires running across rooftops — makes us acutely aware of them. The first year we installed antennas, we didn’t always use shielded ethernet cable. The first lightning storm that rolled through wiped out a chunk of antennas. Now, everything is shielded and grounded!
FYI, an eighty foot cable across a rooftop acts like a huge antenna for capturing lightning’s electromagnetic blast. Unless the cable is shielded and the pulse is drained to ground, your antenna will get fried! Science Fridays!
This storm made me whimper and run away to hide under the bed!
There’s been one other within the last 3 years or so; I remember because I had to bike to work in it. It fell a few big trees on Haight St.