Thunderstorm

At the horizon over a distant field heavy rain is falling.  The white clouds of half an hour ago have risen into a dark tower churning up into the sky.  A sudden flash and the delayed low rumble - the power of the thunderstorm is awe inspiring! 

Some facts about thunderstorms:

• Thunderstorms form when warm moist air rises into cooler layers above. 
• The clouds are over twelve kilometers tall.  
• On average, they are over 20km in diameter.
• They lift 500 million kilograms of water vapor into the high atmosphere.
• Lightning bolts can contain up to a billion volts of electricity. 

And yet, for all their power they are made only of mist. Each storm exists only for a few hours. Each one disappears leaving only a trace of damp in the ground and the fleeting glitter of raindrops on leaves.   Being large and powerful provides no protection.  Nothing lasts for long.