Storm Chasers

Pretty much everyone in the Wisconsin Rapids area has the same photos from last night. But since most of you are out-of-towners, I will share a few.

It was about 8:45 p.m. when I got texts from 3 different people telling me to go outside and take pictures of the funky clouds. I guess people know I like to take pictures. I was in my PJs and socks but went on the driveway anyway. It was pretty funky alright.

This is no filters or anything. The colors and textures just changed before our eyes.

Couldn't tell if it was going to storm or what since the big-ass cloud formation was to the south and seemed to be moving east/southeast. I was just going into the house when Jim pulled into the driveway and said, "Grab your camera, let's go!"

So yes I grabbed the camera, got the battery out of the charger and ran to the CRV, both shoe-less and bra-less. I could have at least grabbed flip-flops for crying out loud. So we race down the road and head east. We felt storm chasers! I was trying to tell him that I already had cloud pictures. Then I realized the light show was starting.

We parked at a prairie chicken observation sight (I'll explain another time) with a wide open field to the south. Front row seats to constant lightning in the distance. Not a sound. It was so strange. Like the storm was on mute. No thunder. Just lightning. I guess it was just that far away.

Meanwhile I am clicking away from the truck window since I wasn't going to go into the field in socks. I kept changing lenses hoping something would work to capture a streak of lightning. Jim was like, "How can you not get it? It is constantly flashing?" Right? Well, lightning is fast. I was trying to anticipate it.

Click. Click. Click.

Finally the skeeters came out so we headed home. I still don't know what I have for photos. I did not look through the dozens of them. Just went far enough to find a winner.

Jackpot, right?

Then tonight I was looking at my phone to see if any of those turned out. Oh crap. I got one! Please don't tell hubby or he'll make me take my expensive camera back!

It is crazy beautiful, though, isn't it? And wow, so dangerous. That's packing a lot of heat.

Much like the weather.