Storms
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Cloud Precipitation

Hail stones the size of golf balls pound Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Hailstones on roof
Hail stones the size of golf balls caused some damage in Highlands Ranch on Monday afternoon.

Severe weather hit Colorado and brought heavy rain, wind and hail to Estes Park and Highlands Ranch.

"It hit the truck, I was out here in the garage and started to close the garage and went inside and the house just started rattling and you could hear it bouncing off the roof," said Highland Ranch resident Jason Tapp.

The storm developed so quickly people were caught off guard and had to run for cover.

"It was like a bomb going off," said said Highlands Ranch resident Thomas Stewart.

Hail pelted the ground for more than 30 minutes, stripping the leaves off trees like a paper shredder and coating rooftops in hail that looked more like snow.


"I don't ever remember anything quite like that, it was kind of new for me," said Stewart.



Cloud Lightning

Father and son fighting for life after lightning struck them in Lisburn, Northern Ireland; daughter seriously injured

Lightning
Desperate school staff and parents rushed to treat the man and his two children, aged five and seven, who were stuck outside the school gates in the 'freak' accident

A father and son are fighting for life and his little girl has been seriously injured after they were hit by lightning at a school sports day.

The man, who is in a "critical condition" in intensive care, was picking up his boy, age five, and seven-year-old girl from Killowen Primary School in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, when the 'freak' accident happened.

His children were rushed to Royal Belfast Hospital for Children, with his son also in a "critical condition" in intensive care, and his daughter in a "serious condition".


The man, who witnesses say was was on his mobile phone outside the school gates at the time of the strike, was taken to Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn for treatment.

Desperate school staff and parents rushed to treat the severely burnt family during the sports day event as they waited for three ambulance crews to arrive at the scene.

The vice principal of the school used a defibrillator on the critically-ill father after he was struck by the bolt en route to his jeep, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

One adult and two kids injured by lightning strike
© Twitter/NI DuathlonOne adult and two kids injured by lightning strike

Tornado2

Waterspout seen off Bonita Beach, Florida

A waterspout photographed from a condo in Bonita Bay on Monday, June 6, 2016.
© Bill DemmertA waterspout photographed from a condo in Bonita Bay on Monday, June 6, 2016.
An eyewitness reported a waterspout might have landed on Bonita Beach late Monday afternoon and moved inland as a tornado, according to the National Weather Service.

The tornado was wrapped in rain, so NWS could not confirm whether the funnel touched the ground, said Rodney Wynn, a NWS meteorologist in Tampa.

"It was hard to see," Wynn said.

Heavy rains and winds are expected to continue through the day, as Tropical Storm Colin makes its way from the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida. NWS has predicted Colin will make landfall on Florida's northwest coast.


Tornado2

Freak weather including a microburst and intense lightning storm hits Campinas, Brazil

Freak weather in Campinas, Brazil
© Divulgação/Rafael CoutinhoIn the photo, you can see that the cloud vortex is well run and does not touch the ground, which would be characteristic of a tornado (translated by Google).
A severe weather event during Saturday night (4th June) caused extensive damage in the Campinas region of Brazil. According to one news report there were wind speeds of 100km/h. Initially attributed to a tornado, later reports suggest a microburst was responsible for the freak weather.

The Center for Weather and Climate Research Applied to Agriculture (Cepagri) of the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), defined the phenomenon that hit the São Paulo city of Campinas on Sunday morning as a Microburst.

The phenomenon has a destructive power similar to a tornado. At least 70 trees fell and houses were left without roofs with streets flooded. 100,000 properties remain without power.

Ana Avila, director at Cepagri said:
The Microburst is more violent than a tornado. The curious thing is that they do not usually happen this time of year.

Cloud Precipitation

Devastating storm ravages Australia's eastern coast leaving 3 dead and several missing

Australia heavy rains
© David Gray / ReutersOfficials stand near a swimming pool and houses that suffered damage after severe weather that brought strong winds and heavy rain to the east coast of Australia at Collaroy beach in Sydney, Australia, June 6, 2016.
A massive storm sweeping across Australia's eastern coast has led to the deaths of at least three people and the evacuations of thousands of residents. Dramatic photos and videos show terrifying waves, raging waters, and widespread destruction.

The devastation hit New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory.

Bizarro Earth

Sydney storm - Government bans unauthorized sandbags

Massive storm across Australia's East Coast — 3 dead, 3 missing. Nearly half a meter of rain fell on Wooli (469mm) in 24 hours. Record rain and flooding occurred in NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania. Sympathies to victims and their families.
Sydney Floods
© ABC 7:30 ReportHouses left hanging as gardens and a pool disappear.
There is a lot we could say, but for the moment, marvel at the government brain that bans unauthorized sandbags, but taxes people to stop the storms.

The Big-gov solution — fine residents a quarter of a million dollars if they use sandbags.
Families whose multi-million-dollar Sydney homes were last night beginning to break away in another king tide could have faced fines of up to $250,000 if they even used sand bags to try to protect their properties.

Houses at Collaroy have been under threat since at least 1974 but the council has failed to build a sea wall or pump sand on to the beach because of environmental concerns and a belief that it was spending public money for the benefit of private landholders.
Or make that a million dollar fine:
Planning Minister Rob Stokes is proposing to increase fines to $1 million for residents who use sandbags to try to protect their properties as part of a new coastal management bill before parliament.

The council has been considering the issue of sea walls since at least 1992. A proposal in 2002 to build a sea wall was shelved after thousands of residents in the area protested. One concern was that sea walls could cause loss of sand.

Cloud Precipitation

Hailstorm pounds ground with tennis ball-sized stones in Vladikavkaz, Russia

 The hailstones were as big as tennis balls
© LIVELEAKThe hailstones were as big as tennis balls
Incredible footage has emerged of a Biblical hailstorm pummelling the ground while people shelter for cover.

The huge balls of hail, which could be larger than tennis balls, hit a car which undoubtedly would have suffered lasting damage.

What appears to be an umbrella is practically destroyed with the hail ripping through its material.

It is thought to have occurred in Vladikavkaz, in Southern Russia near the border with Georgia.


Cloud Lightning

At least 5 houses struck by lightning within an hour in Walton County, Florida

Lightning strike
Thunderstorms rolled though the southeast Saturday morning bringing plenty of rain and lightning. At least five residential structures in South Walton were reported to be hit by lightning, all within one hour. The first call to emergency services came in at 9:23 a.m and the last one was reported at 10:27 a.m.

The houses were located in Santa Rosa Beach, Rosemary Beach and Freeport. In two instances the same lightning bolt hit and damaged numerous structures. Damages have not been estimated yet, but all are considered minor according to Emergency Management.

"I wouldn't consider it significant damage because the structures, they're still able to live in them," said Jeff Goldberg with Emergency Management. "But it is definitely going to be an inconvenience for the folks that live there."

Santa Rosa Beach resident Gale Sheehan was out by his pool when a lightning bolt stuck the ground just a few feet away.

Cloud Lightning

Three women killed by lightning bolt in Karnataka, India

Lightning
Three women were killed and three persons sustained injuries when lightning struck them at Rangappanahalli in Pavagada taluk, Tumakuru district, on Sunday.

The police identified the deceased as Shivamma (35), Chitramma (40) of Jangamarahalli Gollarahatti, and Jayamma (50) of Bursanahalli. The injured — Nagaraj (40), Chikkakka (35) and Nagamma (35) — are being treated in Pavagada taluk hospital. The victims were sowing groundnut seeds, and took shelter in a hut near a tamarind tree when it started raining. The three women were killed on the spot when lightning struck around 5.30 p.m., the police said.

Cloud Lightning

Three youths killed by lightning bolt in Uttar Pradesh, India

Lightning
On Sunday, the victims were playing cricket at Khamaria primary school ground when they were struck by lightning.

Three youths were killed and three others injured after being struck by lightning in Motipur area in Bahraich, police said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday when the victims were playing cricket at Khamaria primary school ground, they said. Firoz (22), Rohit (19) and Siddhu (20) died on the spot while three sustained injuries, police said.

Among the injured, the condition of Jumman (20) is stated to be serious and has been referred to Lucknow, they said. The district administration has announced a financial assistance of rupees four lakh each to the families of the deceased.