Normally our sky is just boring blue with a few puffy whites floating lazily by during the summer months. But the yesterday something looked different…
It got much darker, so dark that the flash went off on the camera, note the light bouncing off the evergreens to the right…
This is not me doing the shimmy out in the garden, I am standing perfectly still with rock steady hands clasping the Canon. While it is true that I am famous for exceptional shimmying ability, it is the wind causing this blurry image, it has begun blowing gale force…
A storm is brewing. Even though the damage from storms can be devastating, my Oklahoma, AKA Tornado Alley, heart races with the winds as the signs of dramatic weather begin…
Sudden flashes of light appear from behind the menacing clouds. It is time to head back inside, ardrenaline rush or not, we don’t fool around with lightning, ever.
The next morning there was fog. Whether it was considered heavy enough to be the foreteller of the first frost date in October as the tales tell, we shall see on October 14 what the weather brings.
(To see more sky, click here.)
Frances
Fairegarden 
I am glad you or your garden were not damaged. That cloud in the fourth shot looks as if it may have wanted to get ugly.
Wow Frances, I am surprised you stayed outside once the clouds got really nasty looking. They are good pictures!!
That first photo is heavenly, Frances. Hey, I WAS actually doing the shimmy yesterday (belly dancing class!)..funny you referenced it..lol!
These are some dramatic clouds Frances. I am glad they didn’t bring on your worst nightmare. Just a summer scrubbing rain. You are wise to not tease lightening. It always wins.
Wow, that’s some weather you had!
Glad you got some rain. None here for a while now:(
Hello my friend! Wonderful storm shots~~and isn’t it exciting to have those popup thunderstorms again! They sure have been missed. Mr I misses the constant wind that he remembers from his Okie upbringing. He and his college best friend tell stories of dragging lawn chairs to the dorm roof to watch the tornadoes move into the city! They were nuts! Your trees are signally the end of summer…sigh. gail
gail
Storms can be fun to watch roll in. I don’t think we had any rain yesterday here in Mid-TN, at least not near us. I hope Gail is premature in talking about the end of summer! The weather has been so much cooler than last year.
Frances,
Those are great shots. I especially like the first one. There is nothing more majestic than rays of light beaming from the clouds. It’s almost like God is trying to get your attention, as if to say “Here I am.”–Randy
I don’t do lightning of any kind. Had a home burn down from a ligtning strike!!! I love how you captured the beginning of the storm changes!!
Wow, this is awesome, Frances! But I’m glad you went back inside at the first sign of lightning. That dark cloud would have scared me off, too–tornado watches find us down in the basement!
Oh no Frances, I love storms. All the negative ions in the air make me feel super alive and I love the feel of a strong summer wind blowing against me. The lightning also creates brilliant art in the sky. It’s just an unfortunate act of nature when they sometimes cause damage.
Wow! That’s all I can muster.
Wow…what a dramatic photo series. Glad you all came through the wind ok! Kim
Hi Frances
Talking of sky, did you get to see the recent Perseids meteor showers. I was the other night. It’s really quite an event.
Glad the garden’s ok. Wind and rain damage is a soul destroyer at this time of year. I bet you can get some ‘proper’ hail too.
You have capture the storm clouds and a storm beautifully. I have never been able to capture lightning before. It is a fearful experience just looking at the sparks in the sky. I like the way you tell the story and wrote this post. Happy skywatching, Frances.
That first shot is beautiful. I was half expecting a funnel cloud to appear out of those storm clouds. Storms can be exhilerating, can’t they, although so tiresome when they cause damage.
Those dramatic clouds with back lighting are amazing. I’m not one for running inside when a storm is coming. I love watching the whole thing, complete with getting soaked to the skin. I suppose I could worry about getting hit by lightning, but if you start reading about it, you can get hit by lightning through the window of your own house. We have friends who saw lightning go across their living room from one outlet to another. So if it is your time, it’s your time. Meanwhile, I’m going out there to experience the wildness of it all.
Thanks for sharing this set of photos. Wonderful.
Lightening once struck right in front of me. I’m partially deaf in my right ear because of it. I could smell the electricity in the air when it happened. So as you told this story and showed these amazing photos–my heart was racing too. I’ve also lived in North Dakota and seen numerous tornadoes drop down out of the sky. Serious stuff huh?
I too love to go outside and watch the torms come in; it is a great thing.
Great pictures,
Jake