Ball Lightning

[Lancashire Lad]

I've looked through the thread titles on the forum but can't see anything on ball lightning. Does anyone have any experience of this phenomenon?

I have seen it only once, some forty five or so years ago, but the details remain as vivid today as when it occured. - I had been sent on an errand to the corner shop by my mother. There was a thunderstorm brewing, and it had begun to rain.

As I was running back home in the rain, a large (beachball sort of size) perfectly spherical ball of bright violet blue light floated across my path. It was "hovering" about a metre above ground level, travelling horizontally very slowly, and there was a definite "hissing" noise. The ball floated across the road and part way down a side street before fading and disappearing.

At the time, I hadn't a clue what it was, (made all the harder because nobody believed me when I tried to explain what I'd seen).

Over the years I've read several articles on the phenomenon, and, since the advent of the internet have searched numerous websites. But I have yet to find anything which looks exactly the same as what I saw that day.

From what I've read, it is not all that uncommon, so I'm hoping that others might have seen something similar.

Regards
Mike.

[agrumpycow]

I haven't witnessed it but it is one of those things which I would love to see. I'm not surprised you can remember it so well! Lucky you!

[ellen h]

I would love to see it too.
I have read about it but dont know anyone who has witnessed it-till Mike that is

ellen

[KeenTeen17]

never seen it but theres plenty about it in my "unexplained" books

- x files theme plays -


it shows a drawing of a ball of lightning falling through the roof right between 2 men. the book says the barn then explodes!

you got lucky!

[Bouncytigger]

I've never witnessed either but can't it travel down your chimney and all sorts!!!!!!!! which is very worrying

[Adam Cheeseman]

Yo're very lucky as it it is not that frequently encountered. I personally have always wanted to see St Elmo's Fire, but I would need to travel on board a boat in an electric storm and I don't much fancy that.

Cheers,

Adam

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by Bouncytigger

I've never witnessed either but can't it travel down your chimney and all sorts!!!!!!!! which is very worrying

It can pass through walls and windows!

[Jez]

I do remember back in 92 the night before a trip to Walton Towers with some friends one of whom was sleeping over, right opposite me, at a neighbours house. I remember being shuck out of bed that night by a big flash of light and almighty bangs and rain, our dogs were petrified, I was, it shuck the place & my brothers also woke wondering what on earth the calamity was. Following morning off to my neighbours to catch a lift, my mates who had been up watching it all told me how a big lighting ball boomed out of no where and bolted right down by bluebell wood nearby. I was still a little in shock at what happened that night, they loved every minute of it!

[seabeggar]

As a sober student in Nottingham in the late 80's while walking home late at night I saw a discreet disc of orange light pass low across the horizon just above terrace roof tops. Difficult to judge its size or distance. It was later reported in the local paper having been witnessed by a number of folk. At the time it was put down as a UFO, but as a "scientist" I wondered about ball lightening, but it certainly wasn't blue and didn't jump around, just moved quickly south east.

Having just Wikipedia'd ball lightening surprised to find its not an understood phenomena. Nice there are still a few mysteries out there.........

[seamusagleann]

a long time ago i was out fishing in loch leven ,my wifes cousin and i witnessed ,what is known as the "callart light", a phenonenom cause by what i think is a ball of methane gas some how ignited and glowing a bright orange ,when donald saw it he knew what it was ,i got a shock !!! it seemed to be coming straight for the boat!!! ,but then it dissapeared behind one of the islands . i've often wondered if the high deposits of quartz could be a factor ,if you compress quartz it give off an electric charge!! who knows?