Lucky Escape at Molesey Lock

[Lower Limit 1909]

Lucky escape for three at Molesey Lock yesterday.

Molesey Lock: Lightning-strike selfie lands siblings in hospital

Not the case with these three, but related to this it does always amaze me when I see SUPs and Kayakers etc. out on the river (as yesterday) in entirely predicted and predictable electrical storms (not to mention the rowing clubs out on the water with school kids during these events). I'm guesssing the large number of trees along the bank provide some 'shadow' but I wouldn't personally want to be the pointy thing 1-2 metres above a flat body of water. It's not clear from the report what was actually directly struck in this case - fortunately not the folk in the story.

 

[penfold]

Tall poppies get flattened.

 

[Time Out]

There was also an almighty willow tree floating down from Tedd on Monday afternoon directly after the storm. Looked like a fresh break so i suspect a lightning strike too

 

[Lower Limit 1909]

That large willow was previously standing on the 'beach' about 2-300 metres downstream from the barge lock. Not a lightning strike - simply 'snapped' at about 3 metres height in the wind. Yesterday - another very large tree 100 metres further down 'snapped' in the same way with noi warning - now completely blocking the tow path. Note - those are just the branches in the picture not the trunk! Two or three large 80+ yr old trees between Teddington and Richmond come down each year but two in 5 days 100 metres apart in modest winds is unusual.