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

(37 Posts)
harrigran Thu 02-Jul-15 00:45:24

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.

durhamjen Wed 01-Jul-15 23:51:49

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

Nelliemoser Wed 01-Jul-15 23:39:00

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

harrigran Wed 01-Jul-15 23:38:31

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.

harrigran Wed 01-Jul-15 23:06:12

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.

Ana Wed 01-Jul-15 22:54:47

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

FYI

numberplease Wed 01-Jul-15 22:49:47

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.

whenim64 Wed 01-Jul-15 22:32:16

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! hmm

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.

durhamjen Wed 01-Jul-15 22:28:02

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.

bikergran Wed 01-Jul-15 22:26:14

* thunderbolt* dohhhhh

Luckygirl Wed 01-Jul-15 22:25:10

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!

bikergran Wed 01-Jul-15 22:20:25

we have thunder starting here in Lancashire right now and it brought memories back to when I used to be at my grans house, if it started thundering she would open the back and front door to let the thunderbolt roll through shock

I spent many a year frightened out of my wits ! waiting for this massive ball of thunder to drop down from the sky and roll though the house!!

was this a Lancashire tradition or did others come across it?