Spectacular Video of Rare Red Sprite Bursts Near Amarillo
Here in Amarillo we're used to crazy storms, but there are things that happen that can be an absolute treat if you catch it.
Red sprites are one of those things. While they aren't technically "rare", they are rarely actually seen.
Back in 2016, one of those aforementioned storms rolled through the Amarillo area. Lightning that seemingly never stopped, almost like it was on a cadence. An absolutely spectacular show was given to those who may have watched it.
One thing though that may not have been caught were the red sprites. So what are those anyway? These are electrical discharges that happen ABOVE the clouds that are producing the storm and lightning that you're used to seeing. These red flashes come in an array of shapes and will quickly flicker in the sky. According to Wikipedia, they're caused by discharges of positive lightning between an underlying thundercloud and the ground. Take a look at the video. This is the Amarillo one.
Ok, this sounds a little too scientific for me. I'm just here for the show really. Even though they say the red sprites aren't technically rare, I beg to differ. I've been a part of a LOT of big time storms, and I've actually never seen one personally. I have a propensity for going outside during a big lightning storm to look up at the sky, but never have I seen red burst in the sky.
So if you're ever lucky enough to see one, soak in that moment because you may never see it again...and take video for those of us who aren't as fortunate.