Calay News
An Arizona resident was incredibly lucky to capture the rare combination of lightning and a rainbow while chasing a storm. While seeing a rainbow and lightning at the same time may seem unusual, it may occur under certain specific conditions.
Lightning is the result of a discharge of energy that occurs during a thunderstorm when there is a sudden release of electricity between the clouds or between the clouds and the ground. These electrical discharges manifest as bright, rapid flashes of light that we know as lightning.
On the other hand, rainbows are formed when sunlight passes through and is refracted by water droplets suspended in the air after a rain or storm. This results in a spectrum of colors that we see as an arc in the sky.
In order for lightning and a rainbow to coincide, certain conditions must be met:
First, the air must have enough moisture for the water droplets needed to create the rainbow to form.
Second, the storm must be receding or dissipating as the sun begins to rise again. Also, the sun must be relatively low in the sky for its light to pass through the water droplets in the air and create the rainbow.
Finally, lightning must occur during the storm, even while the water droplets are still present in the air.
Because these conditions do not occur often, seeing a rainbow and lightning at the same time is a rare event and can be considered quite a special and spectacular situation. The photograph captured by the Arizona resident is undoubtedly an amazing testament to the beauty and rarity of nature in action.
