One of the most dangerous types of cloud to ground lightning
The photos below are classic examples of 'Bolts from the Blue". A "Bolt from the Blue" is a cloud to ground lightning flash which typically comes out of the back side of the thunderstorm cloud, travels a relatively large distance in clear air away from the storm cloud, and then angles down and strikes the ground. These lightning flashes have been documented to travel more than 25 miles away from the thunderstorm cloud (see the "LDAR" discussion below). "Bolt from the Blue" lightning flashes are a very dangerous type of cloud to ground lightning flash, as they "appear" to come out of the clear sky.
This is why it is still dangerous to be outside when thunderstorms are in the region, the lightning can, and does, strike many miles away from the thunderstorm cloud itself. This is why it is a good idea to wait 30 minutes or more after the rain ends before resuming outdoor activities.
Special thanks to Robert Prentice and Al Moller for allowing me to use their photos.
Bolts from the Blue as seen by lightning detection devices
The image below is a "bolt from the blue" detected by a lightning detection system which observes lightning in 3 dimensions. (This 3D lightning detection system is called "LDAR"; see below).
The colored dots above represent the lightning channel of a cloud to ground lighning flash which struck in east central Florida. Note how this flash travelled to the east 40 KILOMETERS (~25 miles) in less than 1 second, and then struck the ground! (note distance on horizontal axis in upper left box, time is upper right box). This flash struck very close to the National Weather Service office in Melbourne, Florida. At the time of the flash, the skies where mostly sunny at Melbourne. The storm itself was located in northeastern Osceola county, about 35 kilometers to the west of Melbourne (Note: ~1.6 Kilometers = 1 Mile).
Below are two other examples of "Bolt from the Blue". The first image showed a bolt from the blue which occurred near the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. This flash is overlayed on radar data which was collected near the time of the flash. Note how the flash travels away from the radar reflectivity into clear air. This flash travelled about 6 kilometeres in clear air before hitting the ground. The small white "x" marks the location of where the cloud to ground lightning flash hit the ground.
The second flash is similar to the the KSC data, but was collected from a storm which formed in NE Colorado during the STEPS experiment.
Lightning and radar data for 11 July 2000 for a storm on the Colorado and Kansas border during the STEPS experiment. Image courtesy of Dr Bill Rison of New Mexico Tech and Daniel W. Breed Project Scientist at NCAR's Research Applications Laboratory.
Bolts from the Blue are obviously very dangerous to the general public as they can strike many miles away from the thunderstorm. More information about LDAR and "Bolts from the Blue" can be found here.
FAQs
A blue flash of light in the sky can be caused by various atmospheric phenomena, with one notable occurrence being a type of lightning known as "blue jets" or "blue sprites." These phenomena typically originate from thunderstorms and involve electrical discharges within the Earth's atmosphere.
What does it mean when lightning is blue? ›
Typically, blue lightning within a cloud indicates the presence of hail. Red lightning within a cloud indicates the presence of rain. Yellow or orange lightning occurs when there is a large concentration of dust in the air.
What is a bolt out of blue lightning? ›
A "Bolt from the Blue" is a cloud to ground lightning flash which typically comes out of the back side of the thunderstorm cloud, travels a relatively large distance in clear air away from the storm cloud, and then angles down and strikes the ground.
What does the lightning bolt symbol mean? ›
For most of its history as a graphic symbol, the bolt has represented power and electricity for bands, brands, and comic book heroes alike. But it's also found a home in politics, where both left- and right-wing causes have used it to represent a whole different sort of power.
Can lightning flash blue? ›
Lightning can appear in various colors, such as white, pink, purple, blue, red, orange, and green, depending on atmospheric conditions and its distance from the ground.
What does blue flash mean? ›
blue flash (plural blue flashes) (meteorology, astronomy) A very rare phenomenon observed in the morning or evening when the sun is crossing or immediately below the horizon, in which a momentary flash of blue light appears above the upper rim of the solar disk, caused by refraction of light in the atmosphere.
What is the glow before a lightning strike? ›
The glow on a masthead produced by an extreme buildup of electrical charge is known as St. Elmo's Fire. Unprotected mariners should immediately move to shelter when this phenomena occurs. Lightning may strike the mast within five minutes after it begins to glow.
Is blue lightning rare? ›
Blue Jet Lightning is not your typical type of lightning. It is a rare occurrence.
What color is a lightning bolt? ›
Most often we see white bolts of lightning but it can take on any of the colors in the rainbow ranging from red (in the infrared band) to violet (in the UV region). Depending on weather conditions you might see tinges of other colors at the edges.
What is a bolt of lightning called? ›
Definitions of bolt of lightning. a discharge of lightning accompanied by thunder. synonyms: bolt, thunderbolt. type of: lightning. abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light.
In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5 times hotter than the surface of the sun).
Why are lightning bolts different colors? ›
Humidity, particles in the atmosphere, and environmental conditions can contribute to the color the lightning appears. The temperature of the bolt also affects what color we see. The hotter it is, the closer to the end of the spectrum the color is.
Why are some lightning bolts different colors? ›
What causes lightning to be colored rather than the usual white or blue? Lightning can appear to be many different colors depending on what the light travels through to get to your eyes. In snowstorms, where it is somewhat rare, pink and green are often described as colors of lightning.
