Floods/Lightning That was a powerful line, almost group of thunderstorms that pummeled the Metro Area Thursday night. (There was a confirmed tornado in Stafford County.) Heavy rain resulted in major flash flooding and the frequent lightning knocked out power. We are in the midst of our severe weather season here in the Metro Area. I need to remind folks that if you approach a flooded street in your car please do not try and cross it. You have no way of knowing how deep the water is and how fast it is moving. Six inches of water can move an automobile. Flash floods come up fast and they recede fast. Turn your car around and find take an alternate route to your destination. Floods, not hurricanes, not tornadoes, not blizzards and not even lightning are responsible for the most weather related deaths in the U.S. every year. Heavy rains and/or frequent lightning are not part of the criteria in determining if a thunderstorm is severe. Hail and wind are the only criteria. In our area the hail must be three quarter inch or larger and/or the winds must be gusting to 56 mph or greater. When one of these criteria is met the National Weather Service in Sterling issues a severe thunderstorm warning. The storms Thursday had incredible cloud to ground lightning. Our lightning detection system counted thousands of strikes. We need to remember that lightning is every bit as dangerous as the winds and the hail. In fact one of my colleagues in town has been trying to get the weather service to issue separate warnings or advisories for thunderstorms that contain frequent lightning. So far no real progress but lightning is mentioned in the text of the severe thunderstorm warning when appropriate. Lightning is the second leading cause of weather related deaths in the U.S. If your thunder you can be struck by lightning. Please take shelter in a building. If you are caught outside find the lowest point around you and crouch down on the balls of your feet.  ¶ 1:47 PM