Incredible Wisconsin Lightning Photo

This incredible photo of lightning was taken last night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin:

Lightning flashes over downtown Milwaukee during a spring thunderstorm Wednesday, May 24, 2006. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

It seems like you rarely see a photo where lightning appears to be emanating from the ground. But after speaking with lightning photography expert Douglas Kiesling, I understand that these types of photographs happen fairly frequently at certain tall antennas in big cities (he specifically mentioned Oklahoma City - you can see an eerily similar photo taken in OKC here).

All lightning strikes technically comes from the ground, of course, but usually not from the same spot. In this case you're seeing several strikes which chose the same tall antenna to redistribute its energy (there goes the adage "lightning doesn't strike the same spot twice"). The Empire State Building is struck by lightning 100 times per year, according to their FAQ.

If you want to see lightning actually striking an antenna up close, check out this page on WVLightning.com.

I've been within 20 feet of a lightning strike three times in my life, ironically none while storm chasing. Lightning struck my house in North Carolina in 1987, then again in 1989, then my home in Pennsylvania in 2000.

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