Thunderstorms

By Emma Roth

Spring is finally here, and like the old saying goes: April showers bring May flowers. Well, this April, nature has decided to forgo simple showers and go full force with storms. Thunder, lightning, hail, wind. The weather has been a force to be reckoned with. Here at Audubon, quite a few trees fell across the trails, keeping the volunteer maintenance crew busy.

In general, I enjoy a good thunderstorm, at least when I am in the safety of a sturdy building. I love watching the build-up of the storm as the skies get darker and the wind picks up. Before a summer storm, the leaves on the trees flip over, subduing the colors of the forest as the pale green of the leaf undersides are shown. In these recent April storms, with leafless trees, it’s the sound of branches clacking together that prevails. A special smell precedes the storms as the smell of rain gets carried ahead of the storm on the wind. There is an initial sense of anticipation, an almost nervous energy, as the storm approaches. How strong will the storm be? How close will the lightning strike?

The wall of rain that begins most storms brings a sense of relief as the storm finally arrives. The sounds of the thunder move, and come from all directions as the storm surrounds you. The world transforms in the midst of a storm, the normal tranquil feeling of nature is replaced by a more sinister feeling. It is a reminder of what nature is capable of.

Thunderstorms can be somewhat hypnotic, especially when it a storm arrives during the night and flashes of lightning turn the night into day. A particularly large thunder clap woke me up at about midnight a few nights ago. Instead of being annoyed by the interrupted sleep, I was excited to watch the storm rage outside (although my cat had other thoughts and was thoroughly unamused by the storm, finding the darkest corner under my bed to hunker down and hide).

While watching a storm from the safety of a building, I often find myself thinking of the critters out in the forest, patiently waiting for the storm to pass. The chipmunks have found safety underground in their burrows, birds take shelter in the dense branches of trees. Worms feel the drumming of the rain on the ground and come to the surface.

The end of a storm is a calm time, as the wind recedes and the rain lessens and eventually stops. During a night-time storm, this is certainly the case, as the world goes back to its quiet sleep. However, the end of a day-time storm signals a flurry of activity. This is when the animals reappear. The squirrels come out of hiding and start bouncing around. The sounds of birds replace the wind in the trees. In the summer, the frogs and insects, who were temporarily silenced, restart their chorus.

After a storm, the world has changed. The air is cooler, the smell of the rain lingers and rises up from the wet dirt. The ground is squishy and muddy. Puddles are full of water. Creeks and streams are raging. Wetlands like Audubon threaten to flood. These differences are all temporary and soon the world goes back to normal. Temperatures rise, water soaks into the earth as puddles dry. Streams and creeks fall back to normal levels, and wetland waters recede.

There are very real dangers that come with storms like the ones that have passed through recently. Wind, lightning, and hail can cause significant damage. When a storm hits, there is an undercurrent of worry in my mind. It’s the fleeting nature of the storm that allows me to push those thoughts aside. The storm is only temporary, and its effects are temporary as well. It will be over soon and there is no way to control what it does, where it goes, or the damage it may cause. I try to enjoy the storm in the moment, and appreciate the show that nature is giving us.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature. ACNC is located just east of Route 62 between Warren and Jamestown. The trails are open from dawn to dusk and birds of prey can be viewed anytime the trails are open. The Nature Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily except Sunday when it opens at 1 p.m. More information can be found online at auduboncnc.org or by calling (716) 569-2345.