On September 17th， media reports surfaced regarding an incident in Fujian， China， where a woman， while filming lightning from her balcony， inadvertently captured a fast-moving unidentified dark shadow within the clouds. The lightning appeared seconds later. The individual involved stated that this was the first time she had witnessed such a phenomenon.
This video has sparked considerable discussion online. Some netizens attributed the anomaly to “issues with the phone’s camera lens，” while others suggested it was merely “a small insect briefly passing by the phone’s lens.”
As is widely known， lightning is a natural atmospheric electrical phenomenon， typically accompanied by thunder. Its formation process can be explained as follows:
Under specific weather conditions， various particles within clouds accumulate electrical charges through collisions and friction. When the accumulated charge reaches a sufficient level， the voltage between clouds or between a cloud and the ground reaches or exceeds a certain threshold. At this point， the localized electric field strength surpasses the dielectric strength of the air under those conditions， causing the air to break down and facilitating the discharge.
The immense heat released in the discharge channel causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly. This rapid expansion and the ensuing compression generate strong vibrations and a loud explosive sound， which is why we perceive lightning and thunder.
When encountering thunderstorms outdoors， it is advisable to adhere to the following safety guidelines to prevent lightning-related injuries:
Avoid open， elevated areas and do not stand on rooftops of tall buildings.
Stay away from exposed metal objects such as water pipes and gas pipes attached to buildings， as well as metal railings， railway tracks， and electrical equipment.
Do not seek shelter under large trees during a thunderstorm.
