Thunder bolts! did your grannies open the front n back door to let the Thunderbold roll through!

We once had a lightening strike in our home - there was a large curved archway between 2 halves of a large room, and inside it was an RSJ. I walked across the room in a thunderstorm and a sheet of lightning flashed like a curtain downwards in the archway - I was slightly disconcerted!

* thunderbolt* dohhhhh

Never came across that, but we've just had our second lot today. I did stand at the door for this one, rain like stair rods. I think it's heading towards the coast now, Sunderland way.

I remember my grandmother saying some people did this, biker. I have never really understood what a thunderbolt is - is it a cross between thunder and lightning? Doesn't quite compute in my head!

It's thundering now here in south Manchester and beginning to rain heavily. Hopefully, the air will be fresher and less humid in the morning.

Perhaps it`s a Lancashire thing? My grandma was near Rochdale, and always said that you had to open the door so that the thunderbolt could roll down the stairs and oout the door. I never really knew what to believe about thunderbolts, but a couple of years ago, during a thunderstorm, there was a flash of lightening, our wi-fi router gave off a blue flame and smoke and gave up the ghost, plus at the same time, a large orange ball nof fire hit the wall at the end of the garage, all visible from where we were sitting. I`ve never seen anything like it before, and it cost us a new router.

A thunderbolt is a flash of lightning with a simultaneous crash of thunder.

FYI

I live on the north east coast and it was a custom followed by older relatives, open the doors and windows. My belief is that if you do get struck it runs through the wiring and blows out appliances that are plugged in.
We had the storm this afternoon but it missed us tonight, we could see the lightning but it did not break overhead.
This afternoon's storm sent us scattering around the garden taking down the parasol and putting the chairs in the garage, we made it just as the first big sploshes fell.

Have just seen photos of a house, about 10 miles from me, struck by thunderbolt, blew a hole in the roof and melted the TV.

I said on another thread I used to be scared of "Thunder and lightning very very frightening."

Harrigran, just looked on the BBC travel, and there is disruption around Bishop Auckland because of ice and fog!

We are having the most spectacular lightning at the minute but no thunder.
My goodness we are having all four seasons today plus the wind was nithering this afternoon.

Is a thunderbolt the same as a bolt from the blue?

My mother used to do it. I never got the hang of how this thing was supposed to manifest itself though!

I've seen some spectacular lightning storms in my life. One one occasion, giant bolts of green lightning striking the earth as if some Supreme Being is throwing multiple javelins. The lightning literally ran across the ground till it disappeared.

There is something incredibly energising about thunderstorms, I think it has something to do with ions (Where that came from I have no idea!) Anyway, I love them.

mixed tenses there

My aunt opens all doors and windows. We're in Yorkshire.

Spectacular thunder and lightning here 12 - 2am.
Kept me awake but didn't wake 2 sleeping DGCs so no calming down needed.
I've never heard of opening windows and doors.

Greyduster yes, it's the manifesation of that thunder and lightning meeting at once and somehow forming an object that is said to be able to 'roll through houses.' Who has ever actually seen that happen for people to think they had to open doors to let it through? Can't envisage it.

My grandmother and mother used to hide all the knives and forks and unplug anything plugged in (East London).

My mother did it too, South Wales

Even in adulthood, my older sister, a normally rational and down to earth individual, was terrified of thunder storms. She would hide in the cupboard under the stairs and refuse to come out until assured that the last growl had dissipated!

oh and apparently thunder turns milk sour! maybe that was in the days of no fridges!

My grandmother used to collect all the knives and forks in the skirt of her pinnie and hide in the cupboard under the stairs. My mother always talked about the first time she went to tea and they heard thunder, my Grandmother rushed around the table grabbing their cutlery.

A spectacular thunderstorm in Durham yesterday and a house in Darlington lost most of its roof. We had hail but Sacriston way they had snowball sized ones. Lots of sheet lightning and forked lightning. The garden appreciated the rain