Slow motion lightning from Univ. of Florida, USA

[Dale.Reid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUIpltFo_fg

High frame rate of cloud to ground leaders before a main strike

[scilover]

Its amazing that we can see multiple branches after the main strike. When the first strike occurs, current flows in an attempt to neutralize the charge separation. This requires that the current associated with the energy in the other step leaders also flows to the ground. So, after the original stroke occurs, it’ll be followed by a series of secondary strikes.