[Carole Patten]

Carole Patten  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello,
 
I am hoping that you can help me find out about a lightning bolt i have seen in my house, i have googled it and all i have found is info on ball lightning, which is said to be spherical, but i saw a blue bolt about a foot/10inchs long, zig zag just like one you see in a lightning storm.
 
It appeared for a split second a couple of feet away from me as i was sitting on my sofa. i felt a charge in the air and as i looked up (i was reading a book) i saw  it. there was a very loud crack as it vanished. my dog who was next to me jumped and moved away and my husband also heard the crack, but i am the only one who saw  it. It was a brilliant blue colour, it did not come from the floor as it was in mid air about 4ft off  the ground and it did not reach the ceiling or any other furniture. There were no storms in the area around this time.
 
I dont beleive it to be supernatural which is why I am on a science site not a paranormal one, but i would really like to know if you have an explaination or have heard of this event happening before, and if anyone else has reported seeing it.  Please let me know either way.
 
Thankyou for taking the time to read this,
 
sincerly
 
Carole

What do you think?

[RD]

I am hoping that you can help me find out about a lightning bolt i have seen in my house

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_indoor_lightning

There were no storms in the area around this time

... lightning strike that hits the ground up to 20 miles away from the storm.
Because it seems to strike from a clear sky it is known as "A Bolt From The Blue"...

"Lightning Crawlers" or "Spider Lightning" can travel over 35 miles

Thunder can only be heard about 12 miles away under good quiet outdoor conditions.

http://www.stormwarn.com/rants/lightning.html