What Do You Class As A Storm?

[Lauren]

As a member of the NSC (again!) I have often wondered what other people define as a storm which would get them out of the NSC, or just in general what do people class as a storm? For clarity, we're talking thunderstorms.

 

For me it has to be overhead or nearabouts with at least 10 minutes of regular activity (say at least a flash per minute). Having said that the most I've had this year was a distant flash and rumble! I'm wondering how close my definition is to other peoples. What do you class as a 'storm'? Please select the answer closest to your definition.

Edited July 2, 2014 by Lauren

[lassie23]

For me it would have to be at least 20 minutes of heavy activity near or overhead! I have managed one such storm like this, this year, which is pretty pathetic!

[laserguy]

Things have been so dire around here and for so long, that the sun going behind a cloud for ten minutes would pass.

[Guest]

Yes, but there is more than one type of storm - there are thunder storms, rain storms, wind storms and snow storms in the form of blizzards.

[laserguy]

Yes, but there is more than one type of storm - there are thunder storms, rain storms, wind storms and snow storms in the form of blizzards.

 

All I get is 'mainly dry with sunny spells' storms.

[Flash bang flash bang etc]

Got to be half an hour or more of lightning from the same cell for it to be a storm in my book.

Get frustrated when people say "we've had a storm" when there was only one flash. Trade descriptions!

[knocker]

Yes, but there is more than one type of storm - there are thunder storms, rain storms, wind storms and snow storms in the form of blizzards.

 

Quite true Mike. I class being in a force 12 in mid Atlantic as a pretty hefty storm,

[Gael_Force]

In reality, it is most likely to be first choice category but will have rapidly built to 5th category levels by the time it appears in print in the convective thread.

[Thundery wintry showers]

A single rumble, while qualifying as a "day with thunder" in my weather records, would not suffice to get me out of the No Storms Club.  However, by any other measure I could be seen as pretty lenient- a few rumbles of thunder is generally enough to make me consider myself an ex-member.

[cheese]

A few rumbles and a few flashes are usually enough for me to exit the No Storms Club - providing the storm is overhead or a mile or less away. I don't count distant storms - admittedly they will be recorded as a thunder day using Met Office standards, but certainly not an overhead storm, which is all I'm bothered about.

 

For example - we had a very isolated cell on the last day of April this year, which included several claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, including one very close - loud enough to trigger car alarms. It was short-lived, but overhead - so was enough for me to be happy.

Edited July 8, 2014 by cheese