What's the roughest weather you've ridden a coaster in?

Ok, I know this isn't a very creative question but since it's winter I couldn't help but think of it.

The worst weather I've ever ridden a coaster was in a violent hail storm. Thankfully it happened on a rather tame family wooden coaster, (Timberhawk at EV).

A couple of us had been riding the coaster nonstop for a couple of rounds, and as we came into the station, the ops asked us if we wanted to go again since no one was in line. So, of course we yelled, "Yes!"

Then as we started up the lift hill, it began to rain. As we entered the first turn the rain came down even harder.

Immediately upon cresting the first drop, the rain turned into large pellets of hail. At the time, none of us knew what it was or why we were in such pain until the ride ended and we were all saturated with white giant sized hail balls.

We went one more time and I think everyone had endured enough of the pain. If I had been wearing a raincoat and gloves I would've stayed on and encouraged others to do so too.

Needless to say, besides being painful and terribly cold, it was terribly fun and each of us were laughing and enjoying the ride while trying desperately to cover ourselves.

This was the most fun I had ever had riding with the general public. It was like a coaster event with the ops having fun too, they would slap our hands and egg us on.

This happened last spring on a day that started out with temps in the mid/lower 60's that quickly dropped to the upper 40's on the coaster.

If this had happened on a larger coaster, I can't imagine the level of pain one could take.

What's you worse weather coaster story?

Merry Christmas everyone! Be safe, healthy, and happy!

God Bless!

CoasterLisa *** Edited 12/24/2005 11:15:50 AM UTC by Lisa Zigweid***

Im guessing the time a thunderstorm rolled in and tripped the motion sensors on The Beast. We sat on the second lift for a good ten minutes in pretty strong thunderstorm until they somehow got us moving.

Also riding MF in a hard rain can be painful. Just ask Sean F.

One year during "Millennium Mania" it was just raining hard enough to not close the ride, but at 90+ mph, rain honestly feels like knives cutting you.

I was able to ride Millennium Force 11 times by just getting off and walking back into the load station. There were not enough people to completely fill one train, so we just kept cycling around and around. I rode 11 times before calling it quits because I just couldn't stand the pain anymore. My arms were completely red and welt-covered. I remember on one trip, I turned around and looked at the entire train behind me dotted with people all with their heads down and arms covering their faces. It was kinda funny.

I rode MForce in sleet and hail. It was NOT fun. lol. I had my face covered the whole time. I also rode the SOB in pouring rain. That was strange.

Most recently at Phunfest I rode Phoenix and Twister in the rain and cold, but for some reason that WAS fun.

The Flyers were on CRACK mode during the day.....nothing like snapping while getting smacked in the face by rain and high winds. Good times! :-)

-Tina

I rode Superman at SFNE in the snow once. It was... cold.

Mr. Freeze in the sleet. Climbing the tower while getting smacked in the face with little pieces of ice was not somethig I'd choose to do again.

the worst was Nitro in the rain.It was also cold out.

Probably riding the Hurricane: Category 5 in some pretty heavy rain, multiple times in a row. The rain actually helped smooth the coaster out somewhat but between the rain and the coaster's agressive nature, it really earned it's name.

I rode the Dragon Coaster at Rye Playland in a thunderstorm. Having the tunnel helped a lot. I know that this doesn't answer the question, but before the storm hit, I was on the ferris wheel and while we were paused of the top while folks were loading, the second car in front of us was struck by lightning. Needless to say they closed the ferris wheel down for the duration of the storm.

Blizzard on WildFire, maybe two years ago... the years are starting to run together :( during Old Time Christmas event.

That would be sleet on American Eagle...felt like pins in the face!

I've rode Millennium Force in downpours. It's amazing to watch the rain as your going down the first hill. It appears to fall then slow down. After than for a split second second it pauses then starting going up. It's a moment that leaves me speachless... That is untill a couple seconds later when I get pelted by the raindrops.

There were a a launch on TTD where a sudden downpour nailed riders during the launch and after the drop. They came back with decent sized welts.

I rode Judge Roy at SFOT in a pretty bad lightning storm. It was the only ride open... not sure why it was open... but I got the credit. :)

I've got to agree with Chuck on the Beast and Millie. Though I've never been stuck on the lift hill when it's happened. That had to suck! Also, riding HULK @ IOA, a little pop-up shower hit us, and that rain actually stung. But Millie hurt the most to me. *** Edited 12/24/2005 7:48:10 PM UTC by Floorless Fan***

Test riding dragster in a downpour - now that was fun.

Two years ago at SFGAm's Last Blast, my friends and I got some Iron Wolf rides in before the park closed. It had to have been in the low 40's, but those were some of the best rides I've experienced.

*** Edited 12/24/2005 8:58:23 PM UTC by BullGuy***

I rode Loch Ness Monster in a bad lightning storm. I was on the last train sent before the ride was shut down. The ops got the call to close the ride, but the train was already loaded so they sent us anyway. I couldn’t believe BGW waited so long to close the ride since it seamed like the lightning lit up the entire night sky.

I’m almost ready to declare a winner…but just in case…are their any tsunami or hurricane stories out there? Or possibly one of those tornado picked up the train and set me down 3 miles away without injury tales…?

PKI Vortex. Pouring rain during an April storm. Front seat.

Made a nice water ride, I was soaked.

"Monsoon on the Mon"