Ball lightning is a bright, fiery ball of light observed during thunderstorms. It usually lasts for one to five seconds. Ball lightning may be silent or there may be hissing or crackling. Some sightings of ball lightning appear to explode. Most appear to be between 0.1 and 1 meter in diameter.
Ball lightning is controversial.
Some investigators think it falls within the realm of UFO and Elvis sightings. Many ball lightning observations may actually be power system faults on distribution or transmission lines. Faults may be caused by lightning. Faults linger after the lightning is done - faults may last up to one second.