Description

Ball lightning is occasionally produced by thunderstorms, and photographic evidence shows that it is usually initiated in mid air as a side effect of a lightning discharge. Sometimes a single discharge will produce a string of glowing balls. Most of these glowing balls dissipate in the air after a few seconds to minutes duration, but occasionally such glowing balls will move towards the ground.
These balls reaching the ground vary from golf ball size to football size or larger, produce varying amounts of energy, glowing very brightly, and may disappear instantly when they hit a well earthed conductor such as a telephone line or power socket. They may pass through a wall without doing much damage, or even producing a hole. Where a ball lightning has passed through a sheet of glass a tiny 5mm hole has been discovered.