What is what color is lightning?

Lightning is not a single color; its color depends on several factors, primarily the temperature and the atmospheric conditions it passes through. While often perceived as white or pale yellow, it can actually appear in a wide range of colors, including:

• White/Pale Yellow: This is the most common color and is often seen in relatively clear, dry air. It's produced by the high temperature of the discharge, causing nitrogen molecules in the air to excite and emit light.

• Blue: Indicates a relatively high temperature of the lightning channel and can occur in regions of relatively low humidity. Sometimes this color indicates a high concentration of ionized nitrogen.

• Red: This often indicates that the lightning bolt is passing through cooler parts of the air. It can also be associated with strikes that occur at a longer distance, making the light appear more red due to Rayleigh scattering (the same phenomenon that makes the sky blue).

• Orange/Yellow: Similar to red, this indicates a lower temperature discharge, or that the lightning is passing through air containing dust or other particles.

• Purple/Violet: Rare, this is indicative of a very high temperature and sometimes is associated with intense lightning bolts that happen at the end of a lightning storm.

The perceived color can also be influenced by the observer's perspective and the light filtering through the atmosphere. For example, a red flash may simply be a white or blue bolt viewed through a longer atmospheric path.