 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Sighting Reports 2010
Sky Lights Up Green in Snowy Sky. Power is Interrupted.
Goose Creek is About 10 Miles Northwest of Charleston.
Date of Sighting: February 12, 2010
Time of Sighting: Began at 9:13 PM EST
Location of Sighting: Goose Creek, South Carolina (See Map)
Description: Listen to Clip of Interview With Witness (MP3)
The witness called and reported his sighting while it was occurring. He was laying in bed and with curtains closed and was startled by a bright flash of light. He opened the curtains and saw a bright green flash that would "light up his entire subdivision." He stated that the flash was intermittent and would sometimes alter between bright green and bright white. His wife and neighbor also witnessed the event. He called the police, but they had no other reports and would not investigate. He said that the power went off after the flashing started and then came on later. The weather was inclement with snow falling in the area. He said that it had snowed 3 inches by the time the light started flashing. His yellow lab dog became very restless when the lights flashed. He said that the dog is normal quite "unexcitable."
Note: No other reports have been received from this area. The light could be some sort of reflection from the ground on the low clouds present, but I don't know what the source of these lights would be? The people who sent the comments below have presented good arguments that the flashes were electrical arcing from damaged powerlines or short cicuited transformers.
Comments Received February 14, 2010: This effect is caused by short-circuited transformers. I have seen it many times in snowy conditions.
This is probably what he saw. This happens in snowstorms. I see it frequently where I am. I copied this from the internet that explains it and included a link where I got the information. Green Lightning? Green/turquoise flashes and/or changing colors: A flash of light in the sky that lingers, pulses and/or changes colors is not lightning, but electrical arcing from shorted-out power lines. These arcs are called 'power flashes' and can be triggered by a variety of severe weather - including ice storms, high winds, tornadoes, or by a direct lightning strike. Electrical arcing, whether caused by lightning, ice or wind damage, is very intense, can be as bright as lightning, can illuminate the entire sky and can change color from blue, green, turquoise, red and orange. When lightning strikes an energized power line, an electrical flashover arc can result. Lightning-triggered flashover arcs usually begin during the strike and linger for a few seconds after the strike is over. See our article about flashover arcs for a more in-depth look. http://wvlightning.com/faqw10.shtml.
Comments Received February 15, 2010: A transformer blew up. Lightening does it best. I have seen six go up at once (greens, whites and reds) and then a blackout for sure. Sometimes you get balls of fire going down the power lines.
