How bad is the lightning or thunderstorm in Florida?

[*Fantasia*]

I am scared of lightning. Thunderstorm is associated with lightning. Just how often does the thunderstorm comes and what month is the rainy season?

We are planning to move to Orlando this July and I don't know how well I'm going to handle the lightning. Is it very intense there and is it often? I'm willing to handle the lizards and the bugs, but I don't know about the lightning. We have lightning here too and it is very intense, but the thunderstorm is not so often though.

Afraid of Lightning,
Telly

 

[Blondie]

Um......yeah....it can get pretty bad!

But honestly, there isn't anyplace that doesn't have the occasional thunderstorm, it's just that some areas get them more frequently than others.

We tend to enjoy a good storm, but not like when we got stuck in Norway/Epcot last August! There was some major storming going on then!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by *Fantasia*
I am scared of lightning............

If so, FL is not the place to move to, the lightning capital of the US.

http://www.flamedia.com/lightning/light.htm

I have a corporate client that designs and installs lightning protection systems. I spoke at one of their association conventions some years back and met 'The Lightning Stalker'. He knows lightning, stalks it, lives in FL. http://www.lightningstalker.com/ I have a beautiful double strike hanging in our family room, similar to this one.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Lightning Statistics for East Central Florida 1959 - 1996

County, Dead, Injured
Brevard 23 69
Indian River 2 4
Lake 13 20
Martin 1 13
Okeechobee 0 7
Orange 12 57
Osceola 5 3
St Lucie 7 11
Seminole 2 21
Volusia 10 27

Although lightning is the number 1 killer in this state, why doesn't it get the attention it deserves? The primary reason is it kills/injures usually one at a time, so it doesn't get the media attention like a hurricane or tornado does. In addition, lightning doesn't cause widespread damage like tornadoes or hurricanes.

No region of North America receives more lightning strikes than central Florida. With more than 100 days of severe thunderstorms every year, the area from Jacksonville to Tampa is justifiably known as the lightning capital of the world. You don't want to be caught on the golf course swinging your 9-iron when one of those electrical storms comes rumbling by.

Deaths due to weather/weather related phenomena in FLORIDA: 1959-1993
(from Storm Data)
Lightning 53.1%
Drowning 16.1%
Tornadoes 12.9%
Hurricanes 8.7%
Wind 4.2%
Cold 3.5%
Misc 1.5%

*Fantasia*

I always try and stand by someone taller than me.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Let's just say I've lost a TV set, a VHS player, and had computer problems thanks to lightening! And they're all plugged into the strips! Yes, lightening is a major thing here. In the summer you can count on thunderstorms around 3 each day. There have been times where it's been lightening as I was leaving work. I don't go out then. I wait around. However, there are some really stupid people here that run figuring they won't be struck. Yup...lightening capital!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

I've heard that hurricane season is June 1 through November 1. But I believe last year they ended it on December 1.

They don't always hit FL. Isabel hit the Carolinas and SE Virginia last year. SE Virginia...exactly where I'm headed!

I think they mention Floyd in the Palm Beaches in 1998 or something. To be honest, I don't remember that one AT ALL! I do remember Andrew in 1992!

http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/weather/2700199/detail.html

 

[Aprille]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
I've heard that hurricane season is June 1 through November 1. But I believe last year they ended it on December 1.

Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 thru Nov 30 every year. Pacific hurricane season is May 15 thru Nov 30. Having lived along the Texas Gulf coast for 36 years I'm all too familiar with hurricane season.

Had no idea that Florida was the lightening capital of the US though. Interesting.

 

[Virgo10]

Ooo, I love lightning but I have a healthy respect for it. I don't seem to get down to WDW any more in the summer. Too bad because the lightning special effects can really knock your socks off.

This picture was taken outside of POFQ back in 1996. The lightning was better than any fireworks display that Disney has put on!

Roberta

 

[nativetxn]

You should move to Arizona. Lots of sunshine and warm temps, low humidity and it rarely rains so there's not that much lightening

At least in the central and southern portion of the state.

 

[goofy4tink]

My dd, now 10, has always been petrified of thunderstorms/lightining. Well, after our trip to WDW last August, no longer an issue!! After being stuck in the monorail area for over an hour, waiting out the storm with lightening the likes I have never seen, we just said what the heck and ran to MK!!! The lightning is incredible. We knew we were in for it when we saw lightning while we landed at MCO, at 2 in the afternoon!! Huge storms everyday. But, on our last night there Fri the 22nd, we got stuck in the entry way to Hall of Presidents. We had ps for LTT. The water was about 4" deep in places, the thunder was crashing around us, and the lighning lit up the skies. DD just said..."Let's just go. It hasn't hit us yet!" So...are the storms huge there? Yep. But thanks to WDW and the storms there, it is no longer an issue at our house.

And Blondie....was that Monday the 18th you got stuck in Epcot? That was when we got stuck at the monorail area. The monorail even stopped due to the tornado sighting

 

[Feralpeg]

Last June, my sister, DD and I were at MGM when a storm came up. You could see it coming so we took cover under the area that used to be a restaurant by Honey I Shrunk the Kids. When the storm broke, it was very intense. Vivid lightening, strong winds and rain in sheets. We just sat in the interior of the area to wait for it to end. We couldn't believe the number of people just strolling around out in the storm. No, the rain wouldn't have bothered me, but the lightening was bad. I have a healthy respect for lightening. I don't go out while it is in the area, I don't use appliances, take showers or talk on the phone during a storm. Some people think they are immune to everything!

If you really have a fear of lightening, central Florida may not be the best place for you.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Oh gosh...OH NO! If the thunderstorm that bad, how could do people go out of their house to go to work or pick up the kids from school? vice-versa. YIKES! I don't know what to do now. I want to move to Orlando. And yes, I am willing do deal with bugs and lizards. I just don't know how I am going to react to the lightnings there. I can't believe that many people die from the lightning in central Florida. How do you guys deal with the lightning?? What do you do to keep yourself safe?

Thanks for sharing the infos and thanks for the links. I have yet to open. I just can't believe the place where I am longing to live is not fit for me. This is bumming me out. ::sigh:: UGH...

 

[Stepharoonie!]

We have horrible thunderstorms here all of the time. It's insane! It used to be everyday in the summer you could set your watch to the storms...it would always get pitch black and pour at exactly 3 p.m. The lightening is incredible here. It's also odd how you'll have these horrible storms, then 5 minutes later it clears up and disappears!

My daughter hates them. Not so much the lightening, but the thunder.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Locals don't go out in them if we are having a bad storm when it's time for school to get out, the schools will keep the children until it has passed. Just because you have an appt you shouldn't risk your life. (Most storms are in the afternoon)

 

[Dan Murphy]

Stay in Michigan, Telly.

 

[Blondie]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
And Blondie....was that Monday the 18th you got stuck in Epcot? That was when we got stuck at the monorail area. The monorail even stopped due to the tornado sighting

YES! That was the same storm! Holy cow, that was one of the worst storms I've seen in many years! It wasn't your average afternoon Florida T-storm that's over in 15-20 minutes either! After waiting for over an hour in the covered area outside of Kringla, the bakery in Norway, we gave up, bought ponchos and walked to the boat lauch to take us back to the Dolphin!

I found out day or two later that a tornado had been sighted that same day!

 

[Blondie]

Telly, why not shift your interest towards Disneyland/California?

Then all you'll have to worry about is earthquakes!

 

[floridaminnie]

Lived in Southern Ca and have been thrown out of my bed b/c of an earthquake. The lightening shows that mother nature puts on are something. But they also don't last long. Give it twenty minutes and the weather will be nice and sunny again!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Feralpeg
I don't use appliances, take showers or talk on the phone during a storm. Some people think they are immune to everything!

This reminds me of my Physics professor last semester telling us that during a thunderstorm, you don't want to use anything in the bathroom. Lightening can travel through pipes!

 

[*Fantasia*]

Originally posted by Blondie
Telly, why not shift your interest towards Disneyland/California?

Then all you'll have to worry about is earthquakes!

I can deal with earthquakes. In the PI (Philippines) they have earthquakes so I know how that goes...but then again...it's been ages and ages since I lived there. Hmmmm....California...I don't know. I can't see myself living there. The pace is too fast for me. Too much hussle and bustle I think.

I like Florida cause it's more settled. More peaceful and quiet. There's lots of retirees there. Slower pace.

HOW DO THEY GO TO WORK WHEN THE THUNDERSTORM IS THAT BAD? CAN THEY JUST CALL IN AND SAY THAT THEY WILL BE LATE DUE TO A BAD STORM OR BAD LIGHTNING? I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO RISK MY LIFE. HOW ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL, CAN THE KIDS BE LATE FOR SCHOOL DUE TO BAD LIGHTNING/STORM? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND ANY MORE INFOS ARE WELCOME.

THANKS,
Telly