A Big Storm Barreled Through Bedford
Like many parts of the country, we’ve been experiencing extremely hot temperatures here in the northeast. Unlike so many areas, we’ve been so fortunate to be receiving significant rainfall. On a recent sultry Sunday, it was a true dog day of summer until early evening rolled around and a big storm came barreling through. As usual, I had my camera in hand, a Canon PowerShot G1 X, and captured some rather stunning images of the violent weather. Betsy Perreten, my stable manager, also took some photos and an impressive time-lapse video, as well.
1 At 6:30 in the evening, the air was so thick and hot and we could tell that a storm was brewing. You could practically slice the air with a knife.
2 The sky looked rather pretty with wispy pastel clouds at first.
3 I drove the Kawasaki down to the stable, where Betsy was already battening down the hatches. All animals were safely inside.
4 Then, quite suddenly, a wall of angry clouds rolled in. Here I am driving past the vegetable garden, rushing towards the safety of my home.
5 It was quite a squall line.
6 Meteorologists announced that the line was quite long and had the potential for tornadoes. At this point, I am standing on the house terrace.
7 Squall lines generally form along or ahead of cold fronts and they can produce severe weather in the form of heavy rainfall, strong winds, large hail, and lightning.
8 Another look at this violent line
9 Then, the skies opened up and the rain began.
10 The paddocks certainly looked verdant. The white flowers on the terrace are Formosa lilies, deliciously scented, beautiful white trumpets that bloom in August.
11 The wind was whipping and steam was rising from the sun-heated earth.
12 The rain came down in sheets.
13 Although I love the rain, I do not like heavy winds and I'm always worried about tree damage. We're still cleaning up from last summer's hurricane.
14 It became quite dark and ominous.
15 After several minutes of pounding rain, it began to grow lighter again.
16 I was wondering how the animals were feeling. My Friesian horse, Meindert, is especially troubled by storms and becomes quite edgy.
17 There was a magical glow as the storm dissipated.
18 All of the trees and shrubs were so heavy with rain.
19 During the storm, Betsy stayed with the animals in the stable and took this shot of a rather impressive lightning bolt, which looks a bit too close for comfort.
20 Another lightning bolt touching nearby
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Wow, Martha, those pictures are fantastic, especially the lightening strikes. So is the video. I'm watching it and all of a sudden, there is that really black cloud that looks as if you can each out and touch it.
I hope you, nor anyone else, had any damage from the storm
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | August 16th, 2012 at 12:26 am
"Rushing towards the safety of my home"? LOL. Come on now… you've got a dramatic flair Martha, that's for sure
Posted by: Joannie | August 16th, 2012 at 2:54 am
Would be fun to know HOW Betsy took the time lapse item.
Posted by: Susan | August 16th, 2012 at 4:49 am
I'm with you Martha, I love the rain, but high wind can be dangerous and it makes me nervous! You captured stunning pictures of the storm approaching, I especially like pic# 4. Watched Betsy's time lapse video, amazing!
Posted by: Cindy F | August 16th, 2012 at 7:26 am
Martha,
Great photos! Thanks for sharing this blog.
Besty,
Great video it captured everthing.
Posted by: KLBrown | August 16th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Hi Martha and Betsy, Thank you both for sharing this blog with the stunning photos and that stunning video about that wild storm that barreled Bedford farm late in the afternoon! How great that you protected the horses and donkeys in their stable, Betsy! How great that you took us on a tour around the farm to get these dark, stormy photos, especially those of the lightning strikes that were so nearby, Martha! I absolutely love viewing your beautiful farm anytime of the day and year! Sure hope there wasn't any damage but that wind could have caused some! We are having some unusual weather here near Puget Sound. For the first time in a couple of years, the temperature is rising up to the 90s this month and we haven't had any rain since July. I don't have any a/c because it usually only gets into the 70s and low 80s most of our summers with rain quite often, but now I leave all the windows open to cool my home at night especially for my little Dudley Do Right who has trouble sleeping in the heat. He kept me awake for hours last night! Sure hope your weather stays safe and my fingers are crossed for ours, too! Hope you have another safe, great day! Hope it's nice up there in Maine! Jan PS There is a terrible forest fire between Cle Elum and Ellensburg where I used to live many years ago!
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 16th, 2012 at 9:56 am
That video is spectacular! I love how you can see the clouds roiling.
Posted by: Mary J | August 16th, 2012 at 10:28 am
These photographs are beautiful Martha. I never enjoyed storms too much but there's something about summer showers that seem so peaceful, cooling the night after a hot day.
Posted by: Diana | August 16th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Wow! We had the same system roll through Montreal. It's been the hottest and most volatile summer (weather-wise) that I can remember.
Love the pictures Martha!
Posted by: Andrea | August 16th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
Wow great photos and video! Stunning
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | August 16th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Martha, thanks for sharing. Originally, from Miami Beach, FL; now residing in Longmont , CO, we do not see many T-Storms out here. I do miss the afternoon rain. It was a joy to relive them in your pictures.
So glad the animals were okay. Did I mention you have the dream life? I used to show three-gaited, in my early 60's need an excuse to start riding again.
Thanks for the inspiration.
God bless!
Posted by: Denise Fisher | August 16th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Hi Martha,
Nice photos as usual. We had a large tulip poplar fall on our roof from a similar storm here in Maryland. Part of the tree was in our living room. So scary and lots of damage. We have lots of trees which I love but now we are fearing for our safety. We hired an arborist and will be removing a few trees now. I hate even saying it, but it's true!
Posted by: Maura | August 16th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Impressive time lapse video! Yikes! Martha, didnt your Mother tell you not to stand outdoors in a lightening storm! And with that wind, you could surely get taken away like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Strangely enough, I am just South of you about 10 miles and we did not get anything like that!!
Posted by: Jayne | August 17th, 2012 at 8:28 am
Thank you Martha for sharing the beautiful views of your home. And I also thank you for teaching me what a squall line is--thought I'd have to look it up. I always enjoy your writing--whether in deep thought or laughing unexpectedly your writing always finds me thoroughly entertained.
Posted by: Michael Zehnder | August 18th, 2012 at 10:58 pm
How I wish I could live in Bedford, what exquisite beauty. Please post plenty of pictures, Martha, when autumn comes to Bedford! Thank you.
Posted by: Renee W | August 19th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Simply awesome pictures of the storm! Thank-you so much for sharing your wonderful life, homes, travels and animals with us. I just love the friesians, I had the opportunity to meet an Ohio couple and their 15 friesians. The horses are magnificent. I own a 16 month flat-coated retriever whose personality is just like the friesians. If I were only younger I would consider having a friesian. If you can please, just have a look at the Dream Gait Friesians website. It's beautiful!
I have been an admirer since I saw what I think was one of your very first TV programs. The one in which you prepared Thanksgiving to serve in the old barn behind your home on Turkey Hill Road, was it the first?
Thank-you again and peace
Posted by: Sandra Bailey | August 20th, 2012 at 12:54 pm