2. Supercell Storms: Powerhouses of Electric Blue
Prime candidates for creating blue lightning, supercell storms—the giants of the thunderstorm world—are known for their great electrical activity. Powerful updrafts and long-lasting characterising feature of these whirling thunderstorms—often lasting hours. Supercells’ special structure, with their revolving mesocyclone, maximises charge separation in an environment. Frequent and strong lightning strikes follow from here; some of these flashes show as vivid blue. The blue colour is especially clear in the anvil section of the supercell, where the cloud extends high above. Here the air is quite dry and frigid, which lets the blue wavelengths of light pass unhindered. Not just for their possible to generate tornadoes, but also for the opportunity to observe the amazing show of blue lightning dancing across the sky, storm chasers and meteorologists frequently hunt down these supercells.