All phenomena
Reports of luminous, ball-like objects near thunderstorms remain difficult to explain and study.
16-Bit Take (analogy): A mysterious glowing sprite whose rulebook is still being investigated.
The science
Several explanations have been proposed. The recorded spectrum supports a role for vaporised soil in that event; a general explanation remains unsettled.
How to spot it
There is no reliable way to seek it out. During thunderstorms, stay inside a substantial building or enclosed vehicle, away from windows.
Where
Reports exist from different locations; there is no established viewing hotspot.
Best season
No reliable viewing season is established.
- ▸Eyewitness accounts are not all independently verified.
- ▸A 2014 paper reported a recorded event after a cloud-to-ground strike, with light from elements found in soil.
- ▸That observation does not establish one mechanism for every report.
Rarity and hazard ratings are informal editorial guides, not measured occurrence rates or official warnings. Local conditions determine actual risk.
Related guides
- Sprites
Brief, often reddish flashes high above thunderstorms, sometimes shaped like columns or jellyfish.
- CUMULONIMBUS
Massive storm tower reaching max altitude limit
- Thundersnow
Lightning and thunder occurring while snow is falling.