Heat Lightning

[rnmm]

I was wanting to know if someone way more knowledgeable than me could tell me if heat lightning exists...is it real is what I mean? My son and I were discussing it and we were wondering. Thank you.

[wall_cloud]

well, look at it this way. Heat lightning DOES refer to an actual phenomenon but its essentially just lightning. It is a name given to lightning that occurs with far off storms on the horizon, typically observed on summer evenings (hence heat). Thunder is not heard given the vast distance and the storm clouds are not visible like they are when the storms are close.

[rnmm]

Thank you. So in reality it really isn't heat lightning but lightning from a storm further away?