Lightning In Katrina

[Blake Michaleski]

the outter band that just came across mobile had a tremendous amount of lightning.

 

[Owen Shieh]

Yeah, that sounds about right. Typically, all the dynamics favor tornadoes and lightning in the outer rainbands, rather than under the CDO.

 

[Greg Stumpf]

Re: Andrew

It was said by one observer in 1992 that Andrew had significant lightning when it struck South Miami, and that the lightning was a (curious?) azure color.

Azure? Most likely, that wasn't lightning, but exploding power transformers. Saw the same thing in Andrew in Louisiana myself.

 

[Andrew Khan]

That's easy to believe, since it's all panic. The outer bands to have lighting and the main tornado threats.

 

[Saul Trabal]

Any websites where I could view lightning discharge info in Katrina?

 

[rdale]

WeatherTAP or http://www.lightningstorm.com

 

[Andrew Khan]

Wow, their really is a lot in this thing! Mainly however, just the bands. Check it out! Their is so much lightning that it takes the shape of the outer bands.

 

[Owen Shieh]

Yeah, and notice that most of the lightning is in the rainbands....NOT in the most intense part of the hurricane (the CDO) around the eye, based on reasons I mentioned earlier.

 

[Susan Strom]

Re: Andrew

It was said by one observer in 1992 that Andrew had significant lightning when it struck South Miami, and that the lightning was a (curious?) azure color. Sorry I don't have a link to that account.

When broken up Pacific hurricanes travel north up the Baja Peninsula and import moisture into the Southwestern Monsoon (Arizona), I have also noticed that the lightning with these systems is often azure in color. I would be curious as to an explanation. As I have seen, this seems to occur more frequently in late August and early September, when the Monsoon can be affected by moisture imported by Mexican tropical systems.