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Yuen Long, Hong Kong, China

Latitude: 22° 28' 33'' N

Longitude: 114° 1' 20'' E

26 July 2016 1934 (Local Time)
Camera direction: towards SE

Image P/S code: P.14.1

Image I.D.: 4997

C_L = 3, C_M = 0, C_H = 0

Thunderstorm
A tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea intensified into a tropical storm named Mirinae. In Hong Kong (China), the weather was hot with sunny periods during the day and there were also a few squally showers and thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms are associated with Cumulonimbus clouds and are most often accompanied by precipitation. This photograph shows a thunderstorm during the evening from a Cumulonimbus calvus cloud. A thunderstorm is defined as one or more sudden electrical discharges, manifested by a flash of light (lightning) and a sharp or rumbling sound (thunder).
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© Sung Lok Cheung
Yuen Long, Hong Kong, China
Latitude: 22° 28' 33'' N
Longitude: 114° 1' 20'' E
26 July 2016 1934 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SE
C_L = 3, C_M = 0, C_H = 0
Image P/S code: P.14.1
Image I.D.: 4997
The tropical depression over the northern part of the South China Sea intensified into a tropical storm named Mirinae. In Hong Kong (China), the weather was hot with sunny periods and there were also a few showers and thunderstorms.
© The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The atmosphere was unstable to the high surface temperatures.
© The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The radar image shows the position of showers and thunderstorms at the time of the photograph.
© The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Lightning: ground discharge
A lightning ground discharge (cloud-to-ground lightning) from a Cumulonimbus cloud strikes the high ground of the Peak at Hong Kong (China).

A trough of low pressure brought thundery showers to the coastal areas of Guangdong. By convention, when lightning occurs the cloud is classified as Cumulonimbus.
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© Irene Ho
The Peak, Hong Kong, China
Latitude: 22° 16' 33'' N
Longitude: 114° 8' 30'' E
31 March 2014 1945 (Local Time)

Image P/S code: S.14.1.1.1
Image I.D.: 4947
Lightning: ground discharges
The main features in this picture are the lightning ground discharges at 1 and 2 (cloud-to-ground lightning). The discharges appear to follow a tortuous path between cloud and ground and are commonly known as forked lightning. Smaller branches from the main discharge at 3, 4 and 5 dissipate into clear air. The discharge on the left of the picture, from cloud to air, appears not to strike the ground and is an air discharge.

When lightning occurs, the cloud is identified as Cumulonimbus. If it is not possible to determine whether the species is calvus or capillatus, as in this picture, by convention the coding is CL = 9.
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© Duncan Paul Kelly
Vryheid, South Africa
Latitude: 27° 45' 41'' S
Longitude: 30° 46' 42'' E
30 December 2011 2257 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards W
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1.1.1
Image I.D.: 4950
Lightning from Cumulonimbus capillatus
Lightning strikes to the ground, known as ground discharges, are seen from the lower part of this Cumulonimbus cloud. The cloud is specifically identified as Cumulonimbus capillatus incus by the fibrous top to the cloud and anvil (coding CL = 9). Other lightning activity is occurring within the thundercloud cloud (intra-cloud lightning), with some cloud discharges lighting up the interior. One lightning flash – an anvil crawler – originates from the upper portion of the cloud, beneath the anvil, and travels horizontally for some distance, generating several branches.
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© Fabrizio Micalizzi
Pace del Mela, Italy
Latitude: 38° 11' 3'' N
Longitude: 15° 18' 41'' E
07 August 2015 0422 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SE
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1
Image I.D.: 4951
Lightning: cloud discharge
Cloud-to-cloud lightning discharge of great horizontal extent
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© Matthew Clark
Chateau Cl, Gothers, St Dennis, Saint Austell, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Latitude: 50° 23' 30'' N
Longitude: 4° 51' 36'' W
17 July 2014 2100 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SW
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1.1.2
Image I.D.: 5024
Lightning: ground discharge
This photograph shows a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from a rather high-based evening thunderstorm over Iowa, USA.
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© Matthew Clark
Prairie, Iowa, United States of America
Latitude: 40° 45' 9'' N
Longitude: 95° 33' 53'' W
31 May 2009 2200 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards E
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: P.14.0
Image I.D.: 5073
“Anvil crawler” lightning
This picture shows lightning branching through the anvil of a strong mid-level thunderstorm over Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. These cloud discharges are colloquially known as ”anvil crawlers”.

A rain-free updraught base can be seen at the right-hand side of the image. Elsewhere, cloud detail is masked by heavy precipitation. Shafts of precipitation are evident near to the rain-free updraught base.
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© Matthew Clark
Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
Latitude: 40° 48' 49'' N
Longitude: 96° 38' 4'' W
01 June 2009 0015 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards SW
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: P.14.1.1.2.1
Image I.D.: 5074
Lightning: cloud discharge (“anvil zits”)
This image features numerous small lightning discharges, informally known as “anvil zits”, in the anvil of a severe thunderstorm near Decatur in Texas, USA (seen at 1 and 2). The photo was a 15-second exposure, so that many examples of the lightning discharges have been captured. Weakly defined mamma is also evident in the anvil. The thunderstorm produced 5 cm diameter hail.
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© Matthew Clark
Boyd, Texas, United States of America
Latitude: 33° 5' 40'' N
Longitude: 97° 38' 47'' W
26 May 2009 2130 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards E
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1.1.2
Image I.D.: 5080
Lightning: cloud discharges
This picture shows cloud discharges of lightning at 1 and 2 during an evening thunderstorm over Nebraska, USA. The thunderstorm was rather high-based, and mamma can be seen in the distance where part of the extensive anvil of the storm is visible. A small updraught base is visible at the lower right, with cumuliform clouds growing into the storm. Cumulus fractus clouds are evident underneath the storm, with other Cumulus species in the distance.
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© Matthew Clark
Hamlet, Nebraska, United States of America
Latitude: 40° 21' 7'' N
Longitude: 101° 7' 25'' W
23 May 2010 2000 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards W
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: P.14.1.1.2
Image I.D.: 5081
Cumulonimbus capillatus praecipitatio cauda
A low-precipitation supercell at sunset. The updraught tower was gradually narrowing as the surface temperature cooled and thermals weakened. Eventually the tower became very narrow and the updraught ceased. Precipitation (rain and hail – there were reports of golf ball-sized hail) can be seen falling out to the right (north) of the updraught tower. A small inflow tail cloud, or cauda, can be seen at the north flank of the updraught base, where rain-cooled air is being drawn into the updraught. Lightning is occurring near the updraught–downdraught interface, and part of the back-sheared anvil is lit by the low Sun. Another large Cumulonimbus can be seen in the far distance.
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© Matthew Clark
Happy, Texas, United States of America
Latitude: 34° 38' 56'' N
Longitude: 101° 55' 5'' W
25 May 2010 2000 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards WNW
C_L = 9, C_M = 0, C_H = 0
Image P/S code: S.10.3 5
Image I.D.: 5085
Cloud and ground lightning discharges
Lightning electrical discharges often follow a tortuous course. Here one connects with the ground as a cloud-to-ground discharge while others travel horizontally for some distance within or beneath the cloud.
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© Hernàn Palmisciano
Almagro, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Latitude: 34° 36' 31'' S
Longitude: 58° 25' 18'' W
13 March 2012 0237 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards NE
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1
Image I.D.: 5568
Lightning from Cumulonimbus capillatus incus
In this view from an aircraft, a lightning discharge is seen originating from near the top of a large Cumulonimbus capillatus incus. The supplementary feature incus is the uppermost portion of the Cumulonimbus spread out in the shape of an anvil.
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© Severin Manuel Baerlocher
Punjab, India
Latitude: 30° 17' 49'' N
Longitude: 74° 26' 36'' E
19 December 2010 0213 (Local Time)

Camera direction: towards NE
C_L = 9, C_M = /, C_H = /
Image P/S code: S.14.1 21
Image I.D.: 5569

Thunderstorm

Lightning: ground discharge

Lightning: ground discharges

Lightning from Cumulonimbus capillatus

Lightning: cloud discharge

Lightning: ground discharge

“Anvil crawler” lightning

Lightning: cloud discharge (“anvil zits”)

Lightning: cloud discharges

Cumulonimbus capillatus praecipitatio cauda

Cloud and ground lightning discharges

Lightning from Cumulonimbus capillatus incus