MYTH: 'Heat Lightning' is something caused by hot weather.

MYTH: 'Heat Lightning' is a strange phenomenon caused by hot weather.

By DAN ROBINSON

Editor/Photographer

TRUTH: 'Heat lightning' is simply distant, ordinary lightning, too far away for thunder to be audible to the observer. 'Heat lightning' is not another type of lightning - it is an unofficial name given to visible flashes of light from ordinary lightning in thunderstorms a great distance away, usually well below the horizon.

Heat lightning is so named because it is often seen on hot summer nights, a time of year when thunderstorms are common. These flashes are often an early warning sign that storms are approaching, because the lightning you see may be moving your way.

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Storm chaser and photographer Dan Robinson

About the Author: Dan Robinson has been a storm chaser, photographer and cameraman for 30 years. His career has involved traveling around the country covering the most extreme weather on the planet including tornadoes, hurricanes, lightning, floods and winter storms. Dan has been extensively published in newspapers, magazines, web articles and more, and has both supplied footage for and appeared in numerous television productions and newscasts. He has also been involved in the research community, providing material for published scientific journal papers on tornadoes and lightning. Dan also holds an active Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA (Part 107) for commercial drone operation.