Re: lightening THUNDER & rain

This was Vegas yesterday, likely the same storm, although the east coast is being hit as well. I flew in from Reno and a flight that should have taken 1.1 hrs took almost 2. They claimed it was to avoid weather cells. However, I don't buy it. We have flown through much, much worse in my decade and half in the air. In one case, with two tornadoes nearby just before approach in KC with the most insane lightening hits I've ever seen, or should ever hope to see, outside an aircraft window. I think the real reason southbound air traffic was being diverted over northern Nevada was due to activities at Area 52 - the true Area 51 ;-) I flew between John Wayne and SF for over 2.5 years twice a week and our flight was diverted a few times "due to unspecified military activity" (United lets you listen to ATC if captain ok's it and that's literally what ATC was telling aircraft). "Due to unspecified military activity" is the Air Force. Diversion due to rain is "Top Secret stuff that never happened". My 2 cents.

A lot of intersection lights were black, and if you look closely to the right of the sign post, that's the water drainage system throwing up.