Started By
Message

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

Posted on 5/9/24 at 7:54 pm
Posted by cbree88
South Louisiana
Member since Feb 2010
5458 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 7:54 pm
I’ve heard many a baw say this, and I just shake my head in disbelief. What’s actually happening is they’re seeing lightning from a thunderstorm that’s too far away to be heard.

Who’s the dummy that started that whole notion?
Posted by North Dallas Tiger
Geaux Tigahs
Member since Mar 2024
2369 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 7:56 pm to
Pull up on us in the wrong manner and ya just may or may not feel that heat lightning real quick sucker...

Posted by Tower_Tiger12
Member since Jan 2021
798 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 7:57 pm to
I don’t think anyone was dumb.. they didn’t know what they didn’t know. It comes from those hot summer nights when there are popup thunderstorms. They would see lightning flashes from off in the distance and couldn’t see or didn’t know there was a thunderstorm that far off. Not dumb at all..

We can pull up a radar and see where storms are relative to our location, they couldn’t. How would you explain lightning flashes on a clear summer night when you didn’t see a thunderstorm in sight, smart guy?
This post was edited on 5/9/24 at 8:02 pm
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
28102 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:03 pm to
It started before TV and radar. People didn't know what was happening at a distance away.
They couldn't see the lightning bolts, hear the thunder and it wasn't raining, so they tried to make sense of it.
Posted by RealDawg
Dawgville
Member since Nov 2012
9489 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:06 pm to
It came from granny.
Posted by shutterspeed
MS Gulf Coast
Member since May 2007
63478 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:08 pm to
The appliance aisle of Lowes.
Posted by HempHead
Big Sky Country
Member since Mar 2011
55506 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:09 pm to
I definitely didn't accept this as an absolutely real phenomenon for my entire life until now.
Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
150833 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:10 pm to
It’s just a saying. And it makes sense because usually it’s warm and not raining outside. I don’t think very many people think the heat causes lightning, it’s just the condition when it happens. I think most know it’s just lightning far away.
This post was edited on 5/12/24 at 5:02 pm
Posted by 4x4tiger
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2006
2930 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:12 pm to
Posted by Morgan56
Member since Jan 2006
1162 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:24 pm to
heat lightining - weather.gov

You are correct sir....
Posted by Buck_Rogers
Member since Jul 2013
1847 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:26 pm to
All lightning is hot.
Posted by shutterspeed
MS Gulf Coast
Member since May 2007
63478 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:30 pm to
Posted by Havoc
Member since Nov 2015
28510 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:31 pm to
quote:

Pull up on us in the wrong manner and ya just may or may not feel that heat lightning real quick sucker...

Tell him, hoss.
Posted by sqerty
AP
Member since May 2022
5077 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:32 pm to
Ball lightning > heat lightning
This post was edited on 5/9/24 at 8:34 pm
Posted by cwil1
KY/TN border
Member since Oct 2023
78 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:32 pm to
Heard it from my Grandma growing up in KY. Lol, I never questioned it. If I saw lighting but no thunder I just said it was ''heat lightin''.
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
27134 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:34 pm to
I mostly heard the term as a kid at the beach. Even in flat places like Louisiana, you normally have your vision blocked by trees, buildings, etc. But at the beach, you can see out over the water to the horizon. Because most of us were going to the beach in the dead of summer, it made some bit of sense.

As an adult, I know it’s not true, but I have a hard time blaming people for believing their eyes and ears without reliable data to the contrary.
Posted by BHM
Member since Jun 2012
3163 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:45 pm to
quote:

Who’s the dummy that started that whole notion?



I did not start it but I sure spread this misinformation to two generations. I feel really bad now.
Posted by Obtuse1
Westside Bodymore Yo
Member since Sep 2016
25776 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:51 pm to
quote:

I’ve heard many a baw say this, and I just shake my head in disbelief.


All lightning has heat as a root cause just like all weather so it isn't really wrong although it is just a name for a visual (and lack of auditory) phenomenon.
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
164327 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 8:56 pm to
quote:

I don’t think very many people think the best causes lightning, it’s just the condition when it happens. I think most know it’s just lightning far away.

Plenty of country folk definitely think heat lightning is a real thing caused by warm summer nights.
Posted by Deplorable Duke
Lousyana
Member since Nov 2016
2154 posts
Posted on 5/9/24 at 9:20 pm to
Hot water heater
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 3Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram