What are lightning sprites?
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Last summer I was fortunate to be flying in a commercial aircraft across Minnesota during some very strong thunderstorms. The pilot woke up the passengers with an announcement that we were flying along side the most spectacular electrical storm he had ever seen in over 30 years of flying! With my face as close to the window as I could get, I looked in every direction at continuous lightning of every type and description! I saw a least one red sprite and probably more TLEs. There was more activity than my eyes could take in at one time. It was an experience of a lifetime!
Oh, how cool to be high enough to see these high-altitude sprites! Thanks for sharing this amazing experience, Sally!
OMG! Stunning!!! Amazing sight! I never had heard of them. The video of October of 2019 is ... I really have no words!
lol! I had no idea that thunderstorms could produce pretty and colorful beams of light. I think ive seen an elf before, it was very incredible but i didnt know what i was seeing until just now! How rare is it to see one of these?
They are rare enough that scientists didn't believe in them until the last few decades. They assumed the lights were Northern Lights. As you saw, however, they look quite different.
Im now giving up on hope to see a good soaking thunderstorm in the midwest. Ive been praying and praying and praying for rain, but look at that. EVERYTHING IS DEAD. It will never rain here again, it will never cool down, we wont have another good fall and winter. Its all gone and they arent coming back. we dont have 4 seasons, its summer year round! My grass is dead, the farms are just withered and the flowers are long gone. So much for el nino right? Winters dont exist anymore so no relief, everything changed. We took them for granted in the past so never wish winter away! I dont think anybody needs this
I'm so sorry. Don't give up on winter, however. Last winter was shaped by one of the strongest and oddest NAO oscillations in a century.
Also, check my next article on the potential El Nino. It usually brings cooler temperatures and more rains to some parts of the Midwest.
Worried about summer heat. When el nino comes what are the indications pointing towards fall? Wetter and cooler in the east? (south carolina to be exact) or still warm and very very dry? Because I was looking at the noaa website and they forecast intensifying drought conditions. Can you please help me?
I will do my next article on the potential impact of an El Nino.
Its sad that the last time ive seen a rain drop was 2 weeks ago! The lower midwest and portions of Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia needs the rain very very badly. The sun is just pounding down on us in nearly 100 degree heat. I wish we could see a good thunderstorm like that, but we are 60% of our normal rainfall for the whole year. Its a beauty but unfortunately all of us are praying for rain. We all need it! When will this torrid summer end? Its la nina that gives us the rain and cooler weather isnt it? If so, thats what we need. Thank you Evelyn for the blog. Ive never seen one of these light formations but i hope to soon!