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Ghost Lightning?

Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 11:50 pm
by Category 5
I don't live in Florida and I've never seen this in Jersey so I was wondering if anyone knew what it was.

After dark I'll see faint distant flashes that resemble lightning even with a clear sky off to my northwest. The only storms were a little over 100 miles to my north-northeast. Does anybody know what it is?

Yes, I named it "Ghost Lightning"

Re: Ghost Lightning?

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:26 am
by Extremeweatherguy
we used to always call it "heat lightning", but it really has nothing to do with heat at all. You are seeing lightning from the distant storms, but it is just so far away that you cannot hear the thunder or even really see the storm cloud. If it is a strong cell though, the flashes blasting into the upper atmosphere can easily be seen at your distance and create the "heat lightning".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_lightning

Re: Ghost Lightning?

Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:48 am
by Category 5
Thanks Extremeweatherguy. 8-)