The Bishopston Forums

Post: #1 (ID: 1932)

Has anyone heared about that house that got stuck by lightning lastnight and caught fire Jaw Drop

I think I saw the strike from my house, out of the blue after the main storm, two VERY loud claps of thunder (almost sounded like a bomb Eek !

), and it caused out power to trip, and damaged my digital radio c8x5

luckily almost everything else had got a surge protector and is safe - phew .

Post: #2 (ID: 1933)

Here's the report for tonight's Evening Post, (sorry for the Rav length post Razz

) -

HOUSE ON FIRE AS LIGHTNING STRIKES
PETER SLEE

10:00 - 24 June 2005
A Swansea house has been badly damaged by fire after an early morning lightning strike. The bolt hit the semi-detached home in Gower just after 5am today.

It came as the region's sizzling summer heatwave gave way to torrential rain and flash flooding.

The lightning hit the property's TV aerial in Long Acre, Murton, causing a blaze which severely damaged a loft conversion.

Flames from it spread causing smoke problems in an adjoining semi as well.

Weathermen had predicted thunderstorms and high winds for later today following yesterday's temperatures of around 26C. But the lightning came sooner than expected.

Neighbours Paul and Liz Edwards who were asleep along with their daughter Caitlin, aged two, when the lightning struck said: "We heard a loud bang at around 5am this morning.

"We immediately thought the house had been hit by lightning. The woman next door came around and told us what had happened. The emergency services were here very quickly."

Their property suffered smoke damage. The house next door occupied by a mum-of-two was more severely hit with its loft area badly effected.

Mrs Edwards added: "I have heard that being hit by lightning can be lucky, but I'm not so sure. It is the last thing you expect."

Weatherman Paul Knightly said the storms were likely to get worse tonight.

He said: "This is a fairly potent situation developing. Storms should start moving into south-western and some southern parts of England and Wales overnight.

"We are likely to have some prolonged outbreaks of rain, with thunderstorms from time to time. These may produce torrential downpours leading to local flash flooding later today."

"People should remember that with any thunderstorm, the main threat is cloud to ground lightning, and the storms are likely to be very electrically active.

"If a storm approaches try to get indoors quickly and do not stand under trees."

Met Office forecaster Andrew Sibley said despite today and tomorrow's wet weather the sun was expected back for Sunday.

"Sadly this is expected to be only a brief respite, with the poor weather returning next week," he added.

Fire watch commander Andy Collis said today: "On our arrival it was the smell of burning the occupier was concerned about. But it rapidly developed into quite a severe fire.

"The lightning hit a TV aerial, was conducted down into the bracket and then into the loft.

"The fire rapidly developed and the back of the roof of the house has been lost.

"It is a bit of an eye-opener to see what TV aerials can do in these conditions. But you must remember that these occurrences are very rare."

--

Scary stuff b2n7

Post: #3 (ID: 1934)

I replied, Julie Smile

I slept all the way through it :/

Post: #4 (ID: 1935)

More bad weather coming , I can hear thunder already, the winds picking up and it's getting darker Jaw Drop