Although there are no historic events of significance associated with them here, thunderstorms have been responsible for death and significant damage in New England. Thunderstorms have spawned the severe winds and tornadoes which have brought emergency management to the forefront without warning.
Every thunderstorm produces heavy rain, strong winds and most dangerous of all, lightning.
The electrical discharge from a storm comes from a buildup of static within the system and can reach 50,000 degrees fahrenheit in a split second. The rapid heating and cooling of the air causes the phenomena known as thunder. Perhaps the most famous New Englander to die from a lightning strike was revolutionary war hero James Otis of Andover, Massachusetts. He was reported to have often spoken to friends that he wanted to die of lightning strike. At any moment, nearly 1800 thunderstorms are in progress on the earth.