In most cases and places when a thunderstorm rolls through, it is either a minor nuisance or mildly entertaining. When you are on the oceanfront, however, it can become a spectacle. It is like being on the front lines with a clear field of view for nature’s artillery. It gives you a visibility unseen just about anywhere else.

Sometimes a thunderstorm can make a day seem as dark as night, or light up a night so brightly it seems like daylight, even if it’s just for an instant.