Severe Weather Pummels New York City

A severe thunderstorm warning was in effect this evening for the New York area. After sweating and panting through a brutal 3 day heat wave, I believed the worst was over. Major news reports had a break on the heat after the impending heavy rain; I guess I happened to miss the part about the severe weather. Unknowing, I became a witness to the fastest winds and most fierce thunderstorm that I have ever seen in New York.

I was lost in my own little world online when I started to hear strange rumblings outside my window. I paid it no mind, telling myself it must be some teens outside causing the ruckus. I continued my aimless web surfing until I heard an enormous crackle followed by an even louder roar. It was close the sound of a small bomb, and set off most of the cars alarms in my area. I had to go at least take a look now.

What I saw was amazing. I pulled up my blinds, and opened my window to see, a garbage can was being blown through the street, leaving its trash strewn all over the sidewalk. The street lights were swinging viciously, and I was a little worried it might fall. I decided that I should go take a closer look, since you can only get your head all but so much out the window without looking crazy. I walked to my balcony and had to put some considerable effort into getting it open, the wind was that strong. Once outside, I got a better idea of what a severe thunderstorm and high winds warning really meant.

The streets surrounding me looked dangerously unstable, being blown very far to one side, as if they could snap at any moment. Spare limbs, leaves, and debris from the street were blowing through the air, and into my face. I left, and came back in the house because I was afraid I could be blown off, or at least get hit with something that could injure me.

I returned to my computer room and decided to go back to sticking my head out the window. I could see the lighting through the clouds looking like quick blinks from a heavenly flashlight. This, I can say was the best part, even though I could be biased since I love severe lighting. The high winds persisted, the lighting became brighter, and then it happened. The sky opened up it's clouds and it drenched anyone who was unlucky enough to still be outside (and who was not blown completely away earlier.)

After about 16 minutes ( yes, I counted) the winds started to die down a bit, leaving the sky calmer but still beautifully flashing with bold silver steaks of lighting. I stood there watching the brilliance of nature for a few more minutes until the weather calmed down. I sat back down to the computer and thought, "Hey! I should share this." So I did... just another not ordinary day of New York's severe weather.