01x05 - A Dark and Stormy Night

[bunniefuu]

♪ Our family loves to look for weather ♪

♪ There's so much we want to know ♪

♪ Weather Hunters All: That's us, Weather Hunters!

Lily: Let's go!

♪ We love discovering together

Lily: What is rain?

Lily: Why does it snow?

♪ Weather Hunters

♪ Around the world, around the corner ♪

♪ our adventure's just begun

♪ Could be cloudy, could be sunny ♪

Al: Hey, kids! The forecast calls for fun!

♪ Whatever the weather, we're in it together ♪

All: Weather Hunters!

Lily: A Dark and Stormy Night.

[whirring]

Lily: There it goes.

I can't wait to see the footage

the weather drone brings us from the thunderstorm,

even though it's far away.

Al: Yes, even if it's not safe for us to go out in the storm,

the weather drone can do that for us.

Corky: It's like we're up there in the sky

watching everything close up.

I just hope it stays in the air in all this wind.

I don't want to lose our best way to safely

have our eyes on this thunderstorm.

Al: Ooh, here we go.

I got the drone flying steady again.

I'll put it back on auto-hover.

That drone is super cool, Dad.

I think so, too, Benny.

Is the thunderstorm very far away from us?

That's right, Corky.

The storm's many miles away.

But it's going to be here soon,

and the neighborhood's counting on us

to do a weathercast that will let them know

when the storm will arrive here.

Too bad we can't go outside to watch the storm come in.

Dot: But we all know that it's not safe

to be outside if you can hear thunder.

Al: That's right.

When there's a storm, staying inside is the norm.

[laughing]

Corky: I think you need to work on that one, Dad.

Al: Okay, okay. How about this?

When the thunder roars, go indoors.

Corky: That one I like.

[laughing]

Dot: What a beautiful storm!

I love watching lightning and listening for the thunder.

Al: Eek!

[thunder rumbles]

Corky: What was that, Dad?

What was what?

Corky: That noise you just made.

Al: Uh, sorry.

Uh, I hiccuped. I think I ate lunch

a little too quickly this afternoon.

Are you sure that was a hiccup?

It sounded more like you were frightened

by that thunder noise.

Al: Me? What?

[laughs]

Not a chance!

I haven't been scared by thunder and lightning,

since I was a little kid, like, this high.

Well, maybe that high.

Corky: Hey, speaking of little kids, where's Benny?

Lily: And where's Cumulus?

They were here minute ago.

They have to be around here somewhere.

[thunder rumbles]

What are you doing under there?

Uh, I think Cumie was a little scared by the thunder.

[whimpers]

So, I came here to make him feel better.

I'm not scared, though.

Of course not, Benny.

Benny: I thought

I might be able to make him not to be scared, too.

Dot: That's so kind and brave of you

to take care of Cumulus, Benny.

It's my job to take care of him.

[whimpers]

[thunder rumbles]

Al: Agh!

[thunder rumbles]

Corky: Okay, so, what was that noise?

Ugh! Hiccups, again?

I gotta do something about this.

Are you sure you're not afraid of thunder?

Al: Corky, I'm a meteorologist.

Weather is my life.

Why, if I were afraid of thunder,

it would be like, uh, a baker

being afraid of cake.

I like cake, but I wish thunder

didn't have to be so thundery?

You and me both, little buddy.

Uh, I mean, for your sake, of course.

Dot: You know, Benny,

the best way for you not to be afraid-

Benny: You mean, Cumulus?

Dot: Oh, yes, Cumulus, of course.

One of the best ways to

maybe not be afraid of something is

to understand what that something is.

Isn't that right, Al?

[thunder rumbles]

Right.

Right.

So, if Cumie knows more about thunder and lightning,

he won't be so scared anymore?

Exactly!

Benny: Cool.

I want to know all about lightning

and thunder, too,

so, I can help Cumie feel better.

Lily: I'd like to know about it, too.

Benny: Because you're scared, Lily?

Lily: No, I was just wondering.

How does thunder and lightning happen?

Al: I know! Come on, everyone, let's take a closer look.

Lily: Okay.

Corky: Yeah.

Benny: Cool.

Al: Okay, it looks like an explanation of lightning

is just what we need right now.

And I'm just the guy to explain.

Al: It all starts when water droplets in

storm clouds freeze into very tiny pieces of ice.

And those ice particles crash into one another.

When those ice particles crash into each other,

they produce electric sparks.

This electricity builds up inside the cloud.

And when all that electricity connects

with electrical charges on the ground,

it turns into lightning.

Now, let's watch the storm on the monitor.

What else do you notice about the light

and the noise?

[thunder rumbles]

Lily: I see a flash of light, lightning.

And I hear a loud noise at the same time, thunder.

That's a great observation, Lily.

In fact, it's the spark of the lightning

that creates the noise

of thunder by quickly heating the air all around it.

It sounds to me like a giant stomping around.

Are you sure it isn't a giant?

Well, Benny, I don't know about a giant,

but what I do know is that thunder is the sound

lightning makes when it flashes.

Both happen at the same time.

Ooh, I just saw the lightning outside our window,

but I don't hear anything.

If they go together,

where's the thunder?

[thunder rumbles]

Whoa!

[laughs nervously]

Lily: Hm.

That's odd.

Benny: What's odd, Lily?

Lily: In the video from the drone,

the lightning and thunder happen at the same time.

But outside our house, we see the lightning

and then hear the thunder a little later.

See?

I don't hear a single bit of-

[thunder rumbles]

[gasp]

[thunder rumbles]

There is some time

between the lightning and the thunder.

Al: Good observation, Lily.

Corky: But why is that?

One.

Two. Three.

Four.

Five. Six.

Seven. Eight.

Nine. Ten.

[thunder rumbles]

Ten counts between the lightning and the thunder.

Benny: Maybe the lightning and thunder are having a race,

and the lightning is faster.

Corky: A race? In the sky?

Al: That's not as strange as it sounds, Corky.

Light from lightning really does travel

faster than the sound of thunder.

Corky: Hm.

I never knew that.

Corky: But how come on the monitor,

the lightning and thunder come at the same time?

Al: That's because the drone is right up next to the storm,

so, it's seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder

at the same time.

But because we're farther away from the storm,

it takes longer for the thunder sound to get to us,

but the lightning comes faster.

One. Two.

Three.

Four. Five.

Six. Seven.

Eight. Nine.

Eight. Nine.

Nine seconds this time, a little faster than the last time

I wonder why that is?

Lily: Let's see. If lightning travels faster than the sound,

so we see it first before we hear the noise it makes,

but the time between seeing the lightning

and hearing the sound is getting shorter,

I think the light and the sound are getting closer.

Excellent reasoning, Lily.

Lily: If the storm is moving closer

to us, the time between us seeing the lightning

and hearing the thunder will get shorter and shorter

‘til the storm is right over us.

Al: Great thinking, Lily!

[thunder rumbles]

[yelps]

[thunder rumbles]

[howls]

Corky: Dad!

Al: Corky, I assure you, your father is calm,

cool, and collected.

I'm definitely, positively, not afraid of anything.

Nothing rattles me.

[thunder crashes]

[yelps]

[power goes out]

[thunder crashes]

Dot: Stay calm, everyone.

The power just went out, that's all.

No need to panic.

I'll go get us flashlights.

There's a battery-powered lamp in the kitchen.

I'll go get it, too.

[thunder rumbles]

Al: Yikes!

[thunder rumbles]

Dot: There, that's better.

[click]

Dot: Here Corky, take this flashlight.

Corky: Thank you.

Dot: Here's one for you, too, Lily.

Lily: Thanks, Mom.

I wonder why that happened.

Sometimes, when there are storms, the lights go out.

Fortunately, we're prepared.

Hey! Dad's gone.

[thunder rumbles]

Corky: And so are Cumie and Benny!

Dot: But where could they be?

Al: Oh, heh!

Oh, heh, heh!

[laughs nervously]

Hi, Dot!

I was just under here to make sure Benny wasn't scared.

Benny: And I came here to make sure Cumulus wasn't scared.

[whimpers]

Why, Al Hunter,

it's perfectly okay to be nervous during a thunderstorm.

Nervous? Me?

Why would I be nervous when I know it's just a natural,

I mean, it's only a simple-

[thunder crashes]

[yelps]

Corky: A-ha!

That “agh” wasn't a hiccup at all.

That's the sound you make when you're scared.

Oh, Dad, you're not scared, are you?

Well, maybe I was just a little,

tiny, teensy-weensy

bit frightened by thunder.

You are?

Al: I'm afraid that, yes, I was afraid, Benny.

Benny: You know what, Dad?

I was, too.

Don't worry, guys.

Mom, Lily, and I will protect you.

Boys, there's nothing wrong with being a little rattled.

It's understandable why someone would be afraid

of thunder.

It's sudden and loud, but remember,

if you're prepared, you'll feel less scared.

And lucky for us, there are things that we

can do to stay safe during a thunderstorm.

Benny: Really? Like what? [thunder rumbles]

Corky: The first thing to do during a thunderstorm Benny, is what Lily said before,

to stay inside.

Yes, and there are things

you should do to stay safe inside, too.

Pay attention to any alerts

from the city that come to your phone,

avoid running water, and avoid using electronic devices

that are connected to an electrical outlet.

Oh, speaking of electricity,

my computer will be shut down

because the power went out.

Corky: Uh-oh, what about your drone?

Benny: The poor drone is stuck outside, alone in the rain.

No, it'll be fine, Benny.

If the drone loses contact,

it automatically returns home, all by itself.

Al: That way, it won't fall or crash

or most importantly, hurt anybody.

Benny: Wow!

I'm glad the drone will be okay,

but now we can't see the storm up close.

Corky: Yeah.

How are we going to know when the storm gets here?

How will we be able to tell everybody in the neighborhood

ahead of time?

Al: Now, that is a good question.

Maybe it's “time” you figured out a solution.

[laughing]

Hey, Dad.

I know that look.

I bet you just gave us a hint.

[chuckles]

Could be.

I'm sneaky that way.

It's time I figured out a solution?

[thunder rumbles]

Now, what could that mean?

Wait a minute.

I have an idea.

Lily: Didn't we just figure out that

we can tell how close the storm is

by counting the seconds between the lightning and thunder?

Al: Yes, we did, Lily.

How about if I measure the time between

when the lightning flashes and the thunder booms?

Then, if the time gets shorter,

we'll know the storm is getting closer.

I've got an idea.

I can use my stopwatch to help you count the seconds.

Al: Okay, count.

One.

Two.

Three.

Lily: Four.

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

[thunder rumbles]

Eight seconds!

It's coming closer.

Ooh! I want to record this.

Dot: Excellent idea, Lily. Go for it.

Lily: When I first counted,

it was seconds between the light and sound.

Then, it was nine seconds between the light and sound.

Now, it's only eight.

[whimpering]

Corky: Aw, Benny.

Are you feeling nervous again?

How about if we play a game

to take your mind off the storm?

Benny: Thanks, but I think

I need to keep an eye on Cumulus, right under here.

Okay, then. I'll just play shadow

puppets all by myself.

Shadow puppets?

What's that?

It's a game

you can only play in the dark with a flashlight.

Corky: First, we need paper, markers,

scissors, and craft sticks.

[thunder rumbles]

Corky: You like drawing, right?

Benny: Yes!

Corky: So, watch me draw.

Corky: I'm drawing a simple shape of a house

on this paper.

It has windows and a chimney.

Then, I'm going to cut this house out of the paper.

Okay.

Ta-da!

There! A house puppet.

Or it will be, once I tape this craft

stick to it.

[thunder rumbles]

Benny: That's a puppet?

Corky: It sure is.

Now, watch this.

[switches flashlight on]

Benny: Wow! You made a house.

If I turn off the lantern,

it's going to look even better.

[clicks off]

[thunder rumbles]

[barking]

Even Cumulus likes that house.

Who lives in it, Corky?

We do, Benny.

It's our house.

Cool.

I want to make a shadow puppet, too.

Okay.

[click]

But you can only do it

right here at the table, not under a blanket.

Well, if Cumulus is okay with that?

[barks]

Good.

Let's do it.

Corky: How about if we draw a storm cloud?

Benny: Okay.

Dot: Did I hear you say you were making shadow puppets?

Benny: Corky's showing me how.

Dot: May I join in?

Corky: Of course.

I think I'm going to make lightning bolts.

Dot: I'm going to make a Cumulus shadow puppet

and a Benny one, too.

Benny: Thanks, Mom.

[whirring]

Hey, look! The drone is back.

Al: Told you it would come back home, safe and sound.

Lily: I feel better knowing it's okay.

Al: Me too.

But how are we doing with our storm watch?

There's still an eight-second wait between

lightning flashes and thunder booms.

Al: Okay.

I'm still on watch-watch.

[giggles]

Lily: Good, good.

Dot: Hey, you two.

I think I found a new way to show

what's going on with a thunderstorm.

Watch our Weather Hunters' shadow puppet show.

[thunder rumbles]

Dot: Benny says, “It's a thunderstorm, Cumie.”

I'm going to do the safe thing and go inside.

Come on!

[imitates barking]

[barks]

Benny: I'm a big thunderstorm cloud,

and here I come.

Corky: And I'm a lightning bolt.

This is our house,

and this is the storm cloud coming closer and closer.

[imitates thunder clap]

Lily: Okay, everybody, start counting.

Al/Lily/Dot/Benny/Corky: One. Two

Three. Four.

Five. Six.

Seven.

[thunder rumbles]

Seven seconds.

It's coming closer.

Corky: The storm cloud comes even closer.

Al/Lily/Dot/Benny/Corky: One. Two. Three. Four.

Five. Six.

[thunder rumbles]

Lily: Six seconds between the light and the sound.

Corky: Closer and closer, the storm approaches.

Isn't this fun, Cumie?

Our lightning's not scary at all!

[whimpers]

Al/Lily/Dot/Benny/Corky: One. Two. Three.

Four. Five.

[thunder rumbles]

Five seconds!

Five seconds.

How are you doing, dear?

Great. great, hon'.

Dot: Well, I guess somebody has gotten

over their fear of thunder.

Huh? Oh, oh, yeah.

Benny seems to be doing just fine,

so is, so is Cumulus.

All: One. Two. Three. Four.

[thunder rumbles]

Lily: Four seconds.

The storm is getting really close now.

Al: When I was studying to be a meteorologist,

we learned that if you divide the number of seconds

between the time you see the lightning flash

and then hear the thunder, by five,

you get the distance in miles to the storm.

Wow, that's a really good thing to know.

So, if we count

five seconds, then the storm is one mile away,

and that's pretty close.

Dot, can you record us

on your cellphone, if it has enough power?

I charged it right before the blackout.

Al: Excellent.

Dot: And we can upload it for everyone

in the neighborhood to see on their cellphones.

All: One. Two. Three.

[thunder rumbles]

Al: Three seconds.

Lily: Three seconds.

Okay, dear, you're on!

Hi, everybody! It's me, meteorologist, Al Hunter.

And I'm here

to tell you the approaching storm will be here very soon.

The Hunter family and I

have been monitoring the storm from the safety of our home.

If you're outside, you really need to be inside, right now.

Al: What's really fun is that we discovered

how to tell how far away a storm is, right, Lily?

Lily: Right, Dad.

We learned that when the storm is far away,

we see the lightning more quickly than hear the thunder,

even though they are the same event.

That's because light travels faster than sound.

Lily: So, when the storm is far away, there is longer time

between the lightning and the thunder.

[imitates thunder claps]

And when the storm is very close, the lightning

and thunder occur almost at the same time.

[imitates thunder clap]

[giggles]

Corky: Great sound effects, Lily!

Almost sounded real!

Lily: And that's how we know

the storm is right here, right now. Dad?

Al: Thanks, Lily.

See, folks, even when the power is out

and our weather tracking devices stop working,

there is always a way to read the weather

and keep everyone updated.

From us, the Weather Hunters, we say,

“When thunder roars, go indoors.”

Lily: We also say-

Lily/Al: Whatever the weather, we're in it together!

Lily: Bye!

[thunder rumbles]

Lily: It's here.

I saw the lightning and heard the thunder at the same time.

Al: Once again, the Weather Hunters have done our job.

Al: Whoo-hoo! Dot: Awesome!

Benny: Yay! Lily: We're the best!

There's something so relaxing about watching the rain

from a nice, comfy, and warm couch.

Benny: So, Dad, I still think there's

a giant in the sky that makes all the thunder noise.

What do you think?

[thunder rumbles]

Al: Well, Benny, various civilizations have observed

lightning and thunder and wondered where they came from.

So, they came up with legends, like your giant.

Lily: Do you know any, Dad?

Al: I know one that says that

thunder and lightning dance together in the sky.

And when they come together, drops of rain fall.

Dot: Aw, that's lovely.

[thunder rumbles]

We're back to seconds again.

I guess the storm is moving away.

[phone alert beeping]

Lily: It's an alert from the city.

We won't get power for another few hours.

You going to be okay, Benny?

Benny: I really don't mind.

The dark and the storm aren't so scary anymore,

but Cumulus is still a little scared, though.

[whimpers]

How about you, Dad?

Al: Benny, if you're not scared,

then I'm not scared anymore.

[thunder rumbles]

See? I guess

I learned a thing or two about not being afraid

by watching my little boy be so brave.

Lily: seconds between the lightning and the thunder.

Dot: You know what?

This is a perfect time for a family game night.

Corky/Benny/Lily: Yay to game night!

Benny: Can we play shadow puppets some more?

Corky: Sure, we can!

Al: Oh, goody!

Can I play with you this time?

Lily: Me too. It looks like fun.

Dot: I'll hold the flashlight.

Corky: The rest of us will hold up the shapes.

[thunder rumbles]

Corky: Hi, I'm Corky Hunter.

Lily: I'm Lily Hunter.

Uh-oh, here comes a thunderstorm cloud.

Corky: Quick! Everybody inside!

Al: I'm right behind you.

[laughing]

Al: Remember, when thunder roars, go indoors.