Ball Lightning, Italian Tyrol
Posted by: Roy T on 10 February 2006
Ball Lightening
Many years ago while trecking through the Italian Troll visiting the many via ferrat my small party became benighted in a mountain hut close by the Marmalada. As the storms rattled around the white peaks we tucked into good amounts of ham, cheese and dark bread all washed down with red wine that must have been all of seven days old all safe and dry inside the not too crowded hut. After lunch whilst trying to write cards home a loud bang followed by a soft whooshing sound caught our attention and all heads were turned towards what seemed to be a globe of palest green somewhere between the size of a big grapefruit or a smallish melon floating several feet off of the ground slowly moving through the hut. The window did not seem cracked and the wall not covered in burn marks where the shining globe had entered nor did it seem to throw out any heat but mind you I for one did not get too close or stick my hand into it. By now about a dozen other people in the hut were gazing open mouthed at the shimmering light which must have lasted for no more that twenty or so seconds because with a small “pop” it was no more and people once again started breathing. As soon as the ball lightning vanished a loud chorus of nervous laughter and giggling swept through the hut and a good few made a hurried sign of the cross.
Anyone else seen Ball Lightning?
Great Balls of Lightning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning
Many years ago while trecking through the Italian Troll visiting the many via ferrat my small party became benighted in a mountain hut close by the Marmalada. As the storms rattled around the white peaks we tucked into good amounts of ham, cheese and dark bread all washed down with red wine that must have been all of seven days old all safe and dry inside the not too crowded hut. After lunch whilst trying to write cards home a loud bang followed by a soft whooshing sound caught our attention and all heads were turned towards what seemed to be a globe of palest green somewhere between the size of a big grapefruit or a smallish melon floating several feet off of the ground slowly moving through the hut. The window did not seem cracked and the wall not covered in burn marks where the shining globe had entered nor did it seem to throw out any heat but mind you I for one did not get too close or stick my hand into it. By now about a dozen other people in the hut were gazing open mouthed at the shimmering light which must have lasted for no more that twenty or so seconds because with a small “pop” it was no more and people once again started breathing. As soon as the ball lightning vanished a loud chorus of nervous laughter and giggling swept through the hut and a good few made a hurried sign of the cross.
Anyone else seen Ball Lightning?
Great Balls of Lightning
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning