Originally Posted by ragtoplvr
Several years ago on my motorcycle I got into a bad thunderstorm. I ride with a armored riding suit, and the pea sized hail still hurt a lot. I made it to a carwash as the hail switched to intense rain. There was about an inch of hail when the rain hit, it was floating and clogging drains, making the road flood in places. I was standing beside the bike in the metal stall when I felt the electricity coming, the feeling was unmistakable but not describable. Then boom I was on the floor in a fetal position. I have no memory of being knocked down, but was not unconscious for more than a fraction of a second as the boom was still reverberating and my ears were ringing, even though I had not yet removed my helmet and ear plugs (that was a good thing) The car wash stall was full of smoke, water vapor or something and the smell of Ozone. I was very glad to be unhurt. I know I was not struck directly, but just that close you will feel things you never want to feel again. No harm though, that is what counts. I stood in that car wash for about 20 minutes, the town police stopped. I was afraid they were going to make me leave but he was just checking to see if I was OK. I told him the car wash took a direct hit, and he might want to call the owner. It was an experience I am kind of glad I had, but do not want to repeat. There was over a foot thick accumulations of hail left behind where the water piled up after the storm was over. I had to wait an additional few minutes before it was safe to ride. Missouri weather!!!! And that was by no means the worst rain I ever got into on the bike. It is a adventure. They do not call them a drenchearo for nothing.
I can only imagine how much worse this would be a 500 MPH in an airplane.
Rod
You should see 2016 hail storm in Colorado Springs. 50,000 written off vehicles, siding all over the city, my neighbor could not get window glass for 4 weeks due to shortage, my roof was fixed completely finally in beginning of November (storm was in July).
Now the hail was size of baseball, and when it was approaching it sound like freight train coming from the South.