Experiencing Ball Lightning and surviving

A Ball Lightning encounter is unique

Ball Lightning is a rare occurrence, with only 5% of the population said to have experienced it. This unusual phenomenon occurs during thunderstorms under the right atmospheric conditions.

Experts say ball lightning can be dangerous and cause death. Many have survived the experience, and a family member and I are witnesses.

This morning, I was heading to pick up my grandson to take him to school, and I asked his uncle to accompany me. It was raining hard, thundering, and the sky was an eerie gray.

As soon as my son shut the car door, the inside of the vehicle near the windshield lit up as though a spotlight was shining. A loud thunderclap followed, and we both jumped. Still, I asked, "Did you see that?" and my son nodded as he replied, "Yes".

We did not see a ball but only instant illumination. Outside of the vehicle was not affected, which intrigued me. I have walked in the rain and experienced lightning dancing nearby, and felt the intense heat. This time, there was no heat, just the bright flash, which thankfully did not affect our eyes.

Science suggests that the outer metal shield of a vehicle protects the passengers inside from being struck by lightning. My motto is that anything manmade can fail, which is why I say "Thank you, Jesus" for divine protection.

The Faraday Effect

Modern science claims the Faraday Effect and not rubber tires that keeps occupants of vehicles safe from lightning strikes, but there have been cars that burned up after lightning hit them, proving there is an exception to every rule.

The faraday cage effect happens when powder coating a part that has a tight angle or corner. Electricity follows a ground path of least resistance. The areas adjacent to the corner offer an easier more accessible path, and thus the charged powder readily flows to those areas but does not flow as easily to the corners. This is a common occurrence which can be mended by reducing the KV output prior to application and/or spraying at a lesser or indirect angles to allow the powder to wrap into the corners. Shooting directly at faraday corners is an ineffective exercise. It is a good idea to make the habit of identifying possible faraday areas and spray those areas first.

Ball Lighting is not a direct strike

Ball lightning is not a direct strike. I have seen this happen before without knowing the name. At least twice earlier in my life, I saw lightning for a brief moment inside a house.

There was no strike or crack of thunder, just the flash while raining, and it was gone. Once was in a kitchen, and the second time was in a dining room.

When I saw the above image, I recalled that once, when I was 16, I woke up one night, and saw what looked like a fiery ball of light whizzing down the hallway.

I was so startled I hid under the cover. How can a ball of lightning appear inside a vehicle or a building and not leave any damage? The following are several theories.

Disappearance and absorption

When instances of Ball Lightning are reported as harmless, they may disperse by vanishing, which was my experience this morning. However, these orbs are unpredictable and may cause a loud explosion or be absorbed into nearby objects.

Atmospheric Energy Manipulation

When lightning strikes the ground, it can produce atmospheric energy manipulation which resembles microwave radiation. A plasma bubble is created, which can potentially penetrate a vehicle's interior.

The Silicon Hypothesis

Some studies suggest that when lightning strikes nearby soil, it vaporizes silicon, which then reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere, creating a fiery ball that can enter enclosed spaces.

Trapped air or actual lightning?

Some scientists are skeptical that lightning is involved and believe these occurrences are only light trapped in the air. Still, you are one of the 5% of the population who have experienced this and survived an encounter with Ball Lightning; count yourself fortunate and blessed. In that brief moment, if actual lightning was involved, there was a probability that we could have all been toast.