On Jan. 17, a storm rolled through Trappe. At 9:16 p.m., Jim Dawson saw a single flash of lightning. When the thunder followed, it rumbled on for more than 30 seconds. At 9:24 it happened again, with 50 seconds of thunder. "Ever hear of anything like this?" No, but Steve Zubrick at NWS Sterling has. He confirms lightning on the Shore that night. About 9:35, six bolts struck in Delaware, perhaps "triggered by one gigantic lightning flash that arced through the sky [over] several seconds."