Thunderstorms, hail possible Thursday

[jakeXT]

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Sunny skies greeted players for a second straight day at Merion Golf Club on Wednesday. They might not last long.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected in the area Thursday morning or afternoon. Hail is also possible.

The National Weather Service is currently tracking a derecho -- a widespread, straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms -- across much of the midwest. The system is expected to hit the Philadelphia area during the opening round of the U.S. Open.

The severe storm can pack winds of at least 75 mph and in some cases spawn tornados and hail.

http://www.pgatour.com/tourreport/2013/010/12/thunderstorms--hail-forecast-for-round-1.html

hail is fun

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. You can see it...

At usa wind map. Just google that.

It is blowing hard from the south over my town, in the center of the United States.

[jakeXT]

2. Never heard of a Derecho before, they certainly have the right flags installed

How the baskets came to be used at Merion remains unclear with the club's website stating that the origin of the baskets "is a mystery to this day."

One theory has it that they were the brainchild of the course's designer, Hugh Irvine Wilson, a Scottish immigrant who returned to his homeland for inspiration and liked the look of shepherds' staffs while on his scouting trip.

More likely, though, was that at that time, such baskets were used at some British links courses to withstand seaside breezes and Wilson could have seen these, liked the look of them and brought the idea back with him to Philadelphia.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/golf/us-open-merion-golf-club-course-a-basketcase-for-golfers/story-fndkztro-1226662834723