A B737-500 pilot reports the aircraft's L1 windshield arced then shattered.

Attributes
ACN	761743
Time
Date	200711
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Dusk
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-500
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 228 flight time type : 9000
ASRS Report	761743
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

While in cruise; the L1 window arced and shattered. ZZZ was under a heavy thunderstorm watch box; so we diverted to ZZZ2. Dispatch; the flight attendants; and passenger were informed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-500 PILOT REPORTS THE ACFT'S L1 WINDSHIELD ARCED THEN SHATTERED.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE; THE L1 WINDOW ARCED AND SHATTERED. ZZZ WAS UNDER A HVY TSTM WATCH BOX; SO WE DIVERTED TO ZZZ2. DISPATCH; THE FLT ATTENDANTS; AND PAX WERE INFORMED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.