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other Nature was not to be ignored on Mother’s Day. A severe thunderstorm hit shortly after 7 Sunday night. More than an inch of rain fell over the course of an hour or two.

There was a lull around quarter of eight. Light was fading — it was sunset time, after all. Between the last-gasp rays of the day and the flash illumination provided by lightning strikes, there were some photos to be had. They follow:

Sky to the south during a lull in the storm. One of the trawlers from Garland Fulcher Seafood Company at dock.

To the northeast, an almost autumnal sky over the Duck Pond.

One of the two docks at the boat ramp. Across Smith Creek, sunset was slipping away.

Dark skies as the last of day’s light fades.

To the south, a still bright sky, as seen here, looking from the Wildlife Ramp toward the Oriental bridge. The creek water meanwhile, was becoming cloudier. Less than half an hour after the first rains had fallen, a distinct line of stormwater runoff could be seen on Smith’s Creek.

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The sky under the bridge and over the Neuse as the shadowy front moved in.

And looking 90 degrees toward the east-south-east.

Just after 8pm, a series of lightning strikes lit the harbor for a second at a time and then left a confused lighting behind. Here’s one of those moments.

And this is another.

Meanwhile, over at Orchard Creek Joel Arrington snapped this image as lightning cracked.

Posted Monday May 12, 2008 by Melinda Penkava