There was a BOOM that rattled windows in the frame and nearly knocked me off the mattress at 3:25 am. May 22nd. The room was lit as if I had turned on the overhead fixture. Then, pitch black. Eyes can’t adjust to that speed of lightning. The radar map above shows the storms that passed over Oxford and the other southern areas. If you haven’t had the pleasure (or horror) of experiencing chain (or sheet) lightning, you’re in for a shock when it hits. Here is what I saw in the sky that morning.
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The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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The white streaks shot horizotily across the under side of the clouds. I would best describe the pattern as, spider webbed or shattered glass. It didn’t look as “hot” as it should. Then a bolt would thrust downward, flicker, brighten, then fade. The sonic blasts came instantly.
Then the deluge arrived. The air was so rich with rain I felt I had taken a drink with each breath. The storms passed in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Hayseed’s guage registered 1.82 inches. There had been little or no wind. There was no hail or tossed debris. There was a calm except for the frog choking, rushing water filling the ditches and creeks, that subsequently flooded the cotton fields.
I was awake anyway, so I took a stroll to survey any damage. Here are some of my findings.
A Great Blue Heron moving from one pond to the next.
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A Turkey Vulture dried his wings.
Catalpa (Catalpa bignonioides) in full bloom
Single Catalpa flower
Birds didn’t seem to bothered by the storms of the night either.
female Cardinal and Morning dove
Wild Rose four leaf Clover
I felt the storm was just to remind me that as bad as things get, things will be okay when it’s over. I look forward to new discoveries as the day progresses. Thanks for stopping by and hope you will share your world with us here.
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My bug of the day is nothing more special than a helper to the lovely Catalpa flower. There were two bumblebees working the tree. I expect other pollenaters joined the collection before the beauty faded.
Left Bee, in flight This Bee embedded.
