Settle in with a bag of popcorn, this could be quite the show.
Cineplex has built a 20 ft tall bag, filled to the brim with popcorn, on Queen's Line between Tilbury and Merlin. The wooden structure also houses a number of cannons and air compressors. With a lightning rod attached to the top, the structure measures nearly 50 ft.
Cineplex's Tanner Zipchen (better known as "Tanner Zee" in the Cineplex pre-show) says they're waiting on a significant storm to set off a chain reaction.
"There's another hydraulic system in there that allows the popcorn to spill over," says Zipchen. "What we need to make that happen is lightning to engage that sequence. When the lightning strikes, potentially the popcorn will spill over the bag and shoot into the air."
With Tilbury directly within Canada's "lightning alley," coupled with a recent bout of severe storms in the area, officials with Cineplex are optimistic about the success of their experiment.
"This is the most likely place in all of Canada that this will happen," says Zipchen. "We have seen that, ironically, with some extreme weather in the area last night. Just talking with our storm expert, there are more storms expected to be here."
Organizers have also set up a live feed to watch the popcorn bag. Residents can also vote to see "#WeatherOrNot" the bag will pop.
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