I apologize for the poor quality of these photos, it was very dark, and rainy, but sometimes a photo IS worth a thousand words. And yes, that’s hail, and it got even bigger later on.
They do it big up here in the Okanagan,
thunderstorms that is…huge, giant
black clouds complete with crashing
thunder, and lightning that lights up the
sky, gale force winds that whip trees
around, it looked like the photos
of Florida in a hurricane that they show on
the news.
Crashing clouds, flashing skies,
branches falling onto power lines,
now that
is a thunderstorm.
At first when the sky darkened we thought “oh maybe it will rain a bit” it was hot and muggy just after dinner. Beautiful, the sun setting, a golden glow through the trees, dark clouds, until suddenly out of nowhere the clouds started to bump into each other like shoppers at a blue light sale.
Lighting lit up the sky, it was fun to watch, until the rain started, scary, noisy, wet, there was water all over, driving winds pushing the cedar hedges over, and shaking down the giant fir trees that have lived here longer then any of us.
Rain cascading down the roof, hitting the windows, and then it turned to hail…big chunks of ice trying it’s best to come through the windows. The ground white, in town, lesser hail, but still damaging here.
Gardens destroyed beyond anything that should be happening at this time of year, tree branches snapping and falling into the power lines, sparks flashing in the rain. Even we newcomers understand this is not normal for this time of year.
What worries me is that the old timers tell us that they have never seen storms like that last two we have had.
As a gardener, and as a newbie to this part of the world, I watch the changes in the weather in order to understand our new climate. It’s hotter, colder, and harsher up here, but I suppose after a few seasons of each we will be old hats at this.
Making snowballs from the hail…..Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams
whooooooooo, sounds like you got a duzzie of a storm. Kind of scary, I'm glad you're safe and the buildings are still standing.
ReplyDeleteDaughter on Van Island said they have had thunder and lightening storms also ... unusual for them. Hope your gardens survive the hail.
ReplyDeleteWe had our hail early in June. Pummeled the garden. While I bemoan a lost garden, I keep in mind our farmer friend who tries to make a living at farming. he was lucky this year. The hail did only little damage. The good news, our garden thrives today having recovered from the beating it took. We always hope for that gentle, sweet rain that lasts long enough to give the yard a good soaking. We don't need all of drama that Mother Nature can hand out. Your little tranquil garden looked so pretty, but it will recover--in due time.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping you can recover the beauty of your garden and am especially glad that Boo had his Zen moment before the storms hit! Gotta love that Boo.
ReplyDeleteThe storms seem to pass over us for the most part. We see the gathering storm clouds and then the thunder comes from the other side of the mountain. Occasionally we'll get a few drops of rain. Last night we got a good dumping of rain, which was good because I didn't have to water the garden. It was over pretty quickly though. No hail. You really got wholloped. Hope your garden survived the onslaught.
ReplyDeleteHi Jen..enjoy your blog so much. We live in South GA and this year we have had rain and more rain. The last 4 years - no rain to speak of...farmers irrigating their crops...lowering the aquifer... causing wells to go dry. Hope the hail did not destroy too much of your garden.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a really great weekend!
Smile and hugs from South GA
Maxie
PS...love your cat - we have a siamese and he lets us live with him.
I am so glad that you are safe! It must have been quite a show! I hope the plants come back nice and strong. This has been such a weird summer! We got almost 3 inches the day before last. I stepped out of my car at work into a puddle halfway up my leg. Soaked to the knees. I am so glad that I keep some socks in my locker. They got wet from my shoes, but at least not as wet as my origional pair was. ( I keep socks and undies in my locker in case I get something nasty (hospital, so you never know), and have to change into scrubs from linen. They don't have extras of those and don't want to go comando. lol Just in case you were wondering why I would have those items in my locker. lol. But we have gone from drought conditions to wet now.
ReplyDeleteI hope the wicked weather will subside soon.., and things get back to normal. Agree with you that weather is less predictable now, and it really is letting out all sort of tantrums. It tries to communicate something........ and we don't react well to the signals of nature.
ReplyDeleteWe had a doozy here too the other night the lightening came down a tree on the neighbors lawn and blew the tires out on his car parked in the drive way. Valerie
ReplyDeleteWow, that sure is crazy weather. Rather frightning too. Glad you were safe although I'm sure your plants and shrubs took a beating. Still waiting for rain here.
ReplyDeleteWeather here is terribly hot. 110 hot. Last summer they say it got worse. I worry about the weather too.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
OMGosh! That looked and sounded (via your writing) like one BIG thunderstorm. Sorry for the damage to all the plants and trees this time of year...that is discouraging. I know what it is like to have some crazy storms in summer but they are wind storms mostly and then just a few drops of rain. This year hasn't been too bad but you never know when it will hit. Glad you are safe and hope the rest of the summer is more even keel weather!
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of you got that line of storms. I love a good storm but not when they get too scary which doesn't happen here very much.
ReplyDeleteIt is scary how much the weather is changing and the way storms come in waves or not at all...those that come though are more damaging year after year they increase in intensity...
ReplyDelete