9 Ways to Enjoy Thunderstorms

One of the best ways to enjoy thunderstorms is to go for a walk – but only when it’s safe, of course. You should obviously avoid lightning at all costs, but you can still have fun in a thunderstorm by taking a walk. Typically I wait until it is winding down, when there’s thunder in the distance but the lightning has stopped, or at least moved far away. There’s nothing like the air just then, especially if it’s cooled down after a hot spell.

As a Southern girl, I come from a very long line of porch sitters. My family turned it into an art form. Typically we prefer cold beers or iced tea to mint juleps, but the idea is still the same. Again, as long as it’s safe to do so, there’s nothing I love better than lounging on the porch, either by myself or with the people I love, to watch a storm kick up dickens. It’s just so beautiful, and there’s something both calming and electrifying about the experience.

Wherever you are, one of the best ways to enjoy thunderstorms, for me, involves curling up with one of my favorite books. I love reading to the soundtrack of raindrops on the roof and thunder in the background. If it’s a thriller, then so much the better – that’s the best way to get goosebumps!

Of course, you don’t necessarily have to read a story. You can tell some great ones too, especially if you’re sharing the storm with people you love. I adore spooky stories during a wicked thunderstorm – especially if the lights go out! This happened frequently when I was a little girl growing up in WV, and I still have delicious nightmares from some of the gems my grandpa told me!

My dad loves to follow storms. He doesn’t do it with tornadoes and hurricanes or anything like that, but he used to like to follow the progress of electric and thunderstorms, and I frequently went with him. The sight is just amazing, especially if it’s going on toward dusk, and you’re just able to see the sun break through the clouds before it gets dark.

Sometimes, all you really want to do is listen to the storm rage outside. I’ve especially always loved the sound of rain on a tin roof. Listening to the bang of thunder and the drumming of the rain has always been strangely soothing. Failing all else, I’m always just happy to lay back and listen to the symphony.

Whether the power goes out or not, one of the best ways to enjoy thunderstorms is to completely let yourself focus on the storm by turning out the lights and lighting candles. It makes a great atmosphere for those spooky stories – or a romantic one if you and your partner want to enjoy the storm together. The combination of lightning strobes and flickering candlelight is beautifully surreal.

Whether you’re cuddling up with a book, a blanket, a pet, or your lover, this is a great way to enjoy a storm. There’s something incredibly cozy about this option, and with the right person, it can be quite romantic as well. It’s wonderful to fall asleep in someone’s arms while you’re listening to the rain beat down outside.

As long as you have screens to protect your home from the rain, this is a great way to pay proper homage to a storm. All that clean, cool, electrified air pouring in through the windows is just delicious. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I love to sit by an open window and let the rain lightly spray my face.

Mind you, these are just some of the ways to enjoy thunderstorms that appeal to me. I bet you have plenty of fantastic ideas too. So, how do you weather this kind of weather?

Top Photo Credit: LJC Photography.com