Lightning kills one at NASCAR Pocono race

Teams attempt to put away the cars during a deluge and severe thunderstorm which struck Long Pond, PA on Sunday. The storm shortened the race and a lightning strike killed one fan and injured 9 in the parking lot.

Was it just me, or was there a slight hint of fall in the air on Monday? After the intense heat and stifling humidity of this summer, that 24C (76F) high in Montreal sure felt good. Don't get me wrong it was still warm, but the air was fresh and temperatures dropped off rapidly after sunset, leaving a much more pleasant night for sleeping. This morning Trudeau dropped to 17C while here on L'Ile Perrot we sat at 15C. This represents some of the coolest air in a month. The week starts off warm and a little more humid with highs of 28C today and Wednesday. Look for some thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon as a cold front slips into the region. The balance of the week looks very unsettled, cooler, with some much needed rain. The previously mentioned front will stall south of the St. Lawrence River and become the focus for several areas of low pressure. As a result we will have clouds and an elevated risk of showers each day through Saturday.

Over the weekend we had a round of strong thunderstorms develop along a sharp cold front on Sunday. For the most part they missed my location here on L'Ile Perrot, we did have some gusty winds and about 10mm of rain, but not much more. Off to the west in the Vaudreuil area where they desperately need rain, a little more than 25mm came down in a thunderstorm around 2pm Sunday. Meanwhile late afternoon storms brought down some trees and power lines in Montreal through the central portion of the city.

LIGHTNING DEATHS
That same front produced strong thunderstorms across Pennsylvania, affecting the NASCAR race at Long Pond, Pennsylvania. The race was shortened as torrents of rain and intense lightning pounded the track after 4pm on Sunday. A lightning strike struck several fans as they were trying to evacuate to their cars injuring 9 and sadly killing 1. This brings the total to 20 lightning deaths this year in the US. According to Environment Canada, on average 9 Canadian are struck and killed each year with over 160 injuries. Your best bet, get inside at the FIRST sound of thunder and STAY inside until 30 MINUTES afterwards. It is imperative to stop all outdoor activities including soccer, golf and fishing. If you are stuck outside make yourself the lowest object around, find a ditch. Never ever take shelter under a tree, they are notorious for being struck. Inside the house avoid electronics, including hard wired phones and put off the shower or bath until after the storm.