Although sometimes used figuratively as above, the idea that lightning never strikes the same place twice is a common myth. In fact, lightning can, and often does, strike the same place more than once. Lightning in a thunderstorm is more likely to strike objects and spots that are more prominent or conductive. For instance, lightning strikes the Empire State Building in New York City on average 23 times per year. [182] [183] [184] Thermonuclear explosions, by providing extra material for electrical conduction and a very turbulent localized atmosphere, have been seen triggering lightning flashes within the mushroom cloud. In addition, intense gamma radiation from large nuclear explosions may develop intensely charged regions in the surrounding air through Compton scattering. The intensely charged space charge regions create multiple clear-air lightning discharges shortly after the device detonates. [132]

U.A.Bakshi; M.V.Bakshi (January 1, 2009). Power System – II. Technical Publications. p.12. ISBN 978-81-8431-536-3. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Kákona, Jakub (2023). "In situ ground-based mobile measurement of lightning events above central Europe". Atmospheric Measurement Techniques. 16 (2): 547–561. Bibcode: 2023AMT....16..547K. doi: 10.5194/amt-16-547-2023. S2CID 253187897. Colvin, J. D.; Mitchell, C. K.; Greig, J. R.; Murphy, D. P.; Pechacek, R. E.; Raleigh, M. (1987). "An empirical study of the nuclear explosion-induced lightning seen on IVY-MIKE". Journal of Geophysical Research. 92 (D5): 5696–5712. Bibcode: 1987JGR....92.5696C. doi: 10.1029/JD092iD05p05696. CG is the least common, but best understood of all types of lightning. It is easier to study scientifically because it terminates on a physical object, namely the Earth, and lends itself to being measured by instruments on the ground. Of the three primary types of lightning, it poses the greatest threat to life and property since it terminates on the Earth or "strikes". Robinson, Dan. "Weather Library: Lightning Types & Classifications". Archived from the original on February 15, 2013 . Retrieved March 17, 2013.Small, short duration sparks, recently documented near newly extruded magma, attest to the material being highly charged prior to even entering the atmosphere. [124] NASA Dataset Information". NASA. 2007. Archived from the original on September 15, 2007 . Retrieved September 11, 2007. Lawrence, D (November 1, 2005). "Bolt from the Blue". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009 . Retrieved August 20, 2009. Positive lightning strikes tend to be much more intense than their negative counterparts. An average bolt of negative lightning carries an electric current of 30,000 amperes (30kA), and transfers 15C ( coulombs) of electric charge and 1 gigajoule of energy. Large bolts of positive lightning can carry up to 120kA and 350C. [75] The average positive ground flash has roughly double the peak current of a typical negative flash, and can produce peak currents up to 400kA and charges of several hundred coulombs. [76] [77] Furthermore, positive ground flashes with high peak currents are commonly followed by long continuing currents, a correlation not seen in negative ground flashes. [78]

Saum, K. A. & Koopman, David W. (November 1972). "Discharges Guided b Yair, Yoav; Aviv, Reuven; Ravid, Gilad; Yaniv, Roy; Ziv, Baruch; Price, Colin (2006). "Evidence for synchronicity of lightning activity in networks of spatially remote thunderstorms". Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics. 68 (12): 1401–1415. Bibcode: 2006JASTP..68.1401Y. doi: 10.1016/j.jastp.2006.05.012. Saunders, C. P. R. (1993). "A Review of Thunderstorm Electrification Processes". Journal of Applied Meteorology. 32 (4): 642–55. Bibcode: 1993JApMe..32..642S. doi: 10.1175/1520-0450(1993)032<0642:AROTEP>2.0.CO;2.

The loss of lower charge regions in the dissipating stage of a thunderstorm, leaving the primary positive charge region. The bolt of lightning in heraldry is called a thunderbolt and is shown as a zigzag with non-pointed ends. This symbol usually represents power and speed. Jennings, S. G.; Latham, J. (1972). "The charging of water drops falling and colliding in an electric field". Archiv für Meteorologie, Geophysik und Bioklimatologie, Serie A. Springer Science and Business Media LLC. 21 (2–3): 299–306. Bibcode: 1972AMGBA..21..299J. doi: 10.1007/bf02247978. S2CID 118661076. About 70% of lightning occurs over land in the tropics [36] where atmospheric convection is the greatest.

Saba, M. M. F.; Paiva, A. R.; Schumann, C.; Ferro, M. A. S.; Naccarato, K. P.; Silva, J. C. O.; Siqueira, F. V. C.; Custódio, D. M. (2017). "Lightning attachment process to common buildings". Geophysical Research Letters. 44 (9): 4368–4375. Bibcode: 2017GeoRL..44.4368S. doi: 10.1002/2017GL072796.

UK weather: Sunshine blitz before mercury soars to 30C in searing heatwave

It is well understood that during a thunderstorm there is charge separation and aggregation in certain regions of the cloud; however, the exact processes by which this occurs are not fully understood. [48] Electrical field generation View of lightning from an airplane flying above a system. Scott, A (2000). "The Pre-Quaternary history of fire". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 164 (1–4): 281. Bibcode: 2000PPP...164..281S. doi: 10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00192-9. Petersen, Danyal; Bailey, Matthew; Beasley, William H.; Hallett, John (2008). "A brief review of the problem of lightning initiation and a hypothesis of initial lightning leader formation". Journal of Geophysical Research. 113 (D17): D17205. Bibcode: 2008JGRD..11317205P. doi: 10.1029/2007JD009036. The electrical charging of solid water ice has also been considered. The charged species were again considered to be the hydrogen ion and the hydroxide ion. [19] [20]