Dark clouds on the horizon are a common sight on the Central Coast at this time of year.

The start of the spring/ summer storm season also marks a busy time for local company Kattron.

Owned by Ken Ticehurst (pictured), an electrical engineer and the Liberal candidate for Dobell, the small company has developed display software which tracks storms.

Rather than warn of an approaching storm with a boring bleep, its warning takes the form of a thunderclap.

In the Age of Communication, Kattron has been keeping pace with the latest technical developments to send data to subscribers.

By the end of the year, golfers, farmers, fishermen and others will be able to use a palm computer and mobile phone to view the path of a storm approaching from 100km away.

Sensors in various parts of the country pick up storm signals and this information is then coded into a display.

Kattron has contracts with energy supply companies such as Transgrid, EnergyAustralia and Integral Energy as well as State Rail and the Rural Fire Service to provide them with the latest data on storms.

Mr Ticehurst explained that up-to-the-minute information on storms can help companies roster staff to places that are likely to be affected by storms.

Kattron, which operates out of a garage-sized building on Mr Ticehurst’s Glenning Valley property, has developed a 24-hour chart of the continent.

Mr Ticehurst has had some experience with severe storms, recording one that comprised up to 15,000 lightning strikes an hour.

It’s hair-raising stuff. Incidentally, if your hair does stand on end while you’re out in the open, it’s a pretty good indication that a storm’s approaching, Mr Ticehurst said.

Myths and facts about lightning:

Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Fact: Lightning frequently strikes the same place repeatedly.
Myth: Lightning always kills.
Fact: It’s more likely that you survive.
Myth: Lightning injuries are like other high-voltage injuries.
Fact: Lightning con-veys much less electrical energy to its victims than power lines and injuries are often less severe than other types of electrical injuries.

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