Date: October 24, 2001
Time: 7:45 P.M.
Place: Litton Jr. High
Camera: Canon Rebel
Warnings: Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Rating: S3
A intense polar front slammed into very warm air today, setting the stage for an intense severe weather outbreak. A very nice squall line barrelled into middle Tennessee as darkness fell. About 20 minutes before the storm arrived, I drove over to Litton Jr. High to try some lightning photography. Unfortunately, some weak cells blew up right between me and the squall line and screwed up my chance to get some really impressive photos. As the line closed in, something very eery occured. Intermingled with the white lightning flashes were green transformer flashes. I have never seen such intence green lightning since the ice storm ten years ago. Needless to say, I got very nervous as the storm hit. It was more like a hurricane then a severe thunderstorm. Horizontal rain in 60 mph winds brought visibility to zero. That lasted for about 15 minutes before the storm let up. It was a classic storm.