Rain by the Bucketsfull

Our little corner of north central Florida is in the midst of severe thunderstorms. Here's what the weather service had to say:

ALACHUA-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST- 601 PM EDT SAT JUL 28 2007

...A SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR ALACHUA...COLUMBIA AND GILCHRIST COUNTIES FOR STRONG WINDS... SMALL HAIL AND EXCESSIVE LIGHTNING VALID UNTIL 645 PM EDT...

AT 601 PM EDT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM CENTERED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF BELL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH. THIS STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL ALSO AFFECT AREAS AROUND BELL... HIGH SPRINGS...NEWBERRY AND ALACHUA THROUGH 645 PM EDT. HAIL UP TO ONE HALF INCH IN DIAMETER...EXCESSIVE CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING AND GUSTY WINDS OF 45 TO 55 MPH CAN BE EXPECTED ALONG WITH POSSIBLE MINOR DAMAGE. HEAVY RAINFALL WILL PRODUCE PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND MINOR FLOODING OF LOW-LYING AREAS.

THE AREA REMAINS UNDER A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH.

REPORT DAMAGE TO THE NEAREST LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR YOUR COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Right on the money. We hope our big trees don't come apart and smash something. The corgi is cowering at my feet. The cat took cover under the house at the first lightning cracks and thunder rolls. He's got his routine down pat.