Against the Odds: Dickinson, West Virginia - June 28, 2003 - 9:30PM
EXPEDITION VIDEO: RealVideo, 1.1MB - Distant coalfields thunderstorm on June 28
DIGITAL VIDEO FRAMES: GIF Animation, 704KB - Cloud-to-air lightning
West Virginia was outside of all forecasted severe thunderstorm risk zones on the Saturday evening of June 28. In fact, no storms were expected to form over the state at all. But that didn't stop rogue storms from beating the odds and developing over parts of the region. Several cells fired late in the evening, mainly over the southern coalfields and in the Clarksburg-Elkins area to the north. Surprisingly, one of the coalfields storms briefly reached severe criteria with one-inch hail reported in two locations, and warnings were issued.
It was this severe storm that presented itself on the southern horizon in Kanawha County at dusk, giving anyone fortunate enough to be watching an incredible sight. Clear skies surrounding the storm gave viewers within a 70-mile radius an unusual view of lightning illuminating the cloud from the inside. Several discharges leaped out of the side of the storm into clear air.
The video shows the storm as viewed from near Dickinson, WV, as it passes over McDowell and Wyoming Counties about 60 miles away at about 9:30PM.
Frames from Video:
Digital Video: Sony DCR-TRV900 3CCD MiniDV, 720x480 NTSC
35mm Camera/Lens/Film: Pentax K1000 SLR, 75-205mm zoom lens, Fuji Sensia 100 slides.
35mm Exposure: 45-90 seconds @ F3 |
