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Heat lightning is a misnomer for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or other clouds from distant thunderstorms that do not have accompanying sounds of thunder. This occurs because the lightning occurs very far away and the sound waves dissipate before they reach the observer.[1] Heat lightning was named because it often occurs on hot summer nights and to distinguish it from lightning accompanied by audible thunder and cooling rainfall at the point of observation
Originally posted by redstripe1229
Funny you should mention., I am looking at what almost looks like a mushroom cloud in a perfectly clear night sky outside of Yuba City, CA. This cloud is producing a lot of lightning with about 1 flash every 30 seconds or so. There is no thunder or sound from it whatsoever. Very strange sight.
Originally posted by makianderson8
I saw the same thing in Yuba City, CA last night. I've never seen anything like it. It was one tubular mushroom cloud and the entire sky was clear. Even on top of the mushroom cloud was clear. It was located right above the sutter buttes. The lightning was different colors and kept hitting the same spot, up and down for quite a while. Later it dissipated and only struck at the bottom of the cloud. Very strange.
At this time of year on warm, humid nights, the phenomenon known as “heat lightning” is very common. The sky will seem to flicker with light; and even on a seemingly clear night with stars, you may see flashes. No sound accompanies the flash, although if you are listening to an AM radio, you’ll hear crackles of static at the same time you see the flash.