by Stephanie Backus
Thu, July 28th 2011 at 10:11 PM
Bolt from the Blue is dangerous lightning that comes from the back end of a storm and can strike an object several miles away. / National Weather Service
Thu, 28 Jul 2011 03:11:45 GMT — An 11-year-old Pennsylvania girl is recovering after a lightning strike last Friday.The girl's mother said the sun was shining when her daughter was struck by a bolt from the blue. It was apparently from a storm several miles away.Bolts from the blue are extremely rare, so we asked Chief Meteorologist Chester Lampkin to shine some light on this weather phenomenon."Lightning on a clear and sunny day is a real and very dangerous phenomenon. These errant strikes of lightning, sometimes called "bolts from the blue" are in fact associated with thunderstorms. It's just you can't see the storm," Lampkin said. "Occasionally lightning strikes emerge from the back side of a thunderstorm cloud, travel a relatively long distance before angling downward to the ground. From the view point of a person near the strike, it would seem the lightning came out of blue skies. In reality, the storm where this deadly bolt comes from may be up to 25 miles away. That's what makes bolts from the blue so dangerous."The National Weather Service recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the final appearance of lightning before resuming outdoor activity. If someone hears thunder, they should head inside. The 30 minute rule can keep families safe while enjoying the great outdoor activities Mid-Missouri offers.Weather Call also offers a mobile lightning option which gives the user a heads up when lightning enters and exits the area. As always, you can find weather information on KRCG or our website for the latest conditions.
