re: Where did the false concept of “heat lightning” come from?

I can remember when I was a little lad we didn’t have much. Sitting outside in those early 80s folding chairs in the carport watching a good thunderstorm with some lightning. The smell of the rain and the little cool breezes that would come through. Didn’t mean a thing then but the memories mean everything now.

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heat lightning

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It's "heat lightening"

Literally never the term until just now. Funny that people couldn't comprehend not being able to see storm clouds... at night.

Only when I was a kid did I believe it was caused by heat. We still called it that, probably because in the summer it just seemed you could see it so far but heard little or no thunder..

I'll take greased lightning over heat lightning any day.

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I don't know what it's supposed to be called but it never makes contact with the ground.

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Most lightning doesn’t hit the ground. ( only about 20%) And some even starts at the ground and goes up.

Real lightning can get you, heat lighting cannot. Don't be scared of heat lighting.

Huh, guess I learn something new everyday.

As to why, where I grew up we had 1 tv with 3 channels. We weren't close to anywhere.

We would see the sky turning black, turn on the TV/radio, not a word mentioned about it. Storm would roll through and the sky would clear before we would hear- seek shelter from this dangerous storm!

The old timers that told me about heat lightning were the same ones telling me when to start looking for arrowheads when plowing fields.

Figured they knew everything.

frick you you rat bastard.

My Maw-Maw may have been incorrect but she was a damned saint!!!!