More than 200 000 lightning strikes cause damage and outages across Mackay region, Australia
More than 200 000 lightning strikes were recorded across Queensland's Mackay region from Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 2020, to December 9, according to Ergon Energy, resulting in power outages and equipment damage.
Ergon Energy spokeswoman Emma Oliveri said that Mackay and nearby areas in a 100 km (62 miles) radius recorded more than 76 400 lightning strikes. Moranbah had 35 000 bolts, while Airlie Beach clocked up 30 000.
Talkback caller John Emms, from Schumanns Road in Eungella, told ABC, "That's the best storm I've ever seen, continuous lightning and thunder." He added, "Better than a night artillery barrage, and I've been in one of those before today."
Mount Charlton resident named Dan described his experience as he witnessed the light show. "We had a terrific light show to start with, and then… the thunder was right on top of us."
"We'd just got to bed and got one big flash of lightning and the thunder just straight on top of us and both my wife and myself just jumped, it just gave us that big a fright, it was that loud and so close."
He continued, "I don't scare too easily but it gave us a bit of a shock."
In Glenden, more than 65 000 strikes were recorded in the town's Central Highlands, where the storms caused damage to substation equipment and succeeding power outages.
"We have a lightning arrester that's been damaged," Oliveri stated. "A lightning arrester is there to protect sensitive equipment at the sub-station from more extensive damage."
"So it's done its job– it's there to divert lightning, but it's been destroyed in the process."
"It's not necessarily the replacement of that equipment that takes time, it's also getting safe access to the network."
Oliveri added that power was cut to 470 customers serviced by the Glenden substation, and crews were working to replace the broken equipment. "I'm very conscious of shift workers who rely on air conditioning."
As of December 9, Ergon Energy said power has been restored to more than 2 200 customers so far.
"Where there is extensive storm damage it won't be a quick fix, so your patience is appreciated while our local crews work into the night to get as many customers safely reconnected as possible."
Check out these awesome snaps of thunderbolts and lightning over #Mackay: https://t.co/z8s6sAamDh
Marty Strecker pic.twitter.com/zm9o4c3uEz— Daily Mercury (@daily_mercury) December 9, 2020
Featured image credit: Pixabay
THE SUN AND ITS RELATION WITH OUR PLANET IS GROSSLY MISUNDERSTOOD
THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKES IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE IS THE INCREASE OF SOLAR-COSMIC RADIATION AS THE SUN IS RAISING FURTHER IN THE GALAXY AND THE EART’S MAGNETIC FIELD IS WEAKENING. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS, READ MY ARTICLE THAT WAS PUBLISHED WITH NEXUS MAGAZINE. https://nexusmagazine.com/product/the-helical-sun/?v=35b5282113b8
As in, the end this time around? Or just another galactic precession 25k cycle? I’ve not read your article yet but I’ve ordered it. Sounds interesting.
Melanie, “the end” typically refers to the end of this cycle, a civilization ending event, the procession of cycles of the Earth will continue for a long time.
The increased lightening events are a tell according some knowledgable in this field, try Ben Davidsons channel on youtube, contains lots of information regarding whats happening for free … https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTiL1q9YbrVam5nP2xzFTWQ
I’ve been following Ben for years, but he’s not all I follow. My question about the “end” was in direct relationship to Jamal’s article in which he states
“the completion of the transformation cycle of the entire Solar System” in relation to the Sun being at its “nearest possible distance to the galactic core.”
I’m aware of many whom study this topic like The Diehold Foundation and Suspicious 0bservers, but I’m always interested to learn about something I have not heard yet.