Weather stories

It was a Saturday, summer time maybe, mid to late August. I was about 12 years old and decided to go and play out in a major thunderstorm that had been gathering for most of the day. The rain was pelting down and the thunder was roaring, the lightning was in all different forms, it was a spectacular sight. I had my wellies on and was playing around when a massive, very hot beam of light stood before me as clear as day and about 2 foot wider than me.

I stopped, it took my breath away and shook me through to my soul. I had experienced one of the most powerful forces of nature about 30 centemetres in front of my face, a bolt of lightning. It could have hit me - maybe it did - but my wellies protected me with them being rubber.

I couldn't move for about 10 minutes, I went back inside shaking from head to foot and as white as a ghost. My mum asked me if I was ok and I couldn't answer her for about an hour. I've never been so terrified in my life.

Leeds, August 1995
Submitted online by Sarah Gibson, February 20, 2004