Multiple Complex Strikes

Looking east from Twin Peaks, this 3-minute exposure reveals some very interesting patterns. If you look at this close-up, you can see the intricate strikes weaving horizontally through the lower strata. The curved streaks in the lower left of the image are headlights and taillights of cars on the road to Twin Peaks.

Print No. A01-52-1

Twin Strike over the San Mateo Bridge

Looking southeast from Twin Peaks, this 5-minute exposure captures one major twin strike and just misses a second one to the left of the view. Candlestick Point's on the left and the San Mateo Bridge can be seen just above the water. San Francisco International Airport lies just to the right of the view, and those angled streaks crossing the path of the lightning are from jets in their final descent into the airport. Just before this exposure was taken, a lightning bolt struck a transformer or other structure on the ground that glowed as 2 green balls for several seconds after the strike. Whatever it was, you can see the resulting smoke just above the water, next to the left bolt.

Print No. A01-51-12.

Cross Strike

Again from Twin Peaks, looking east over the downtown area, this single strike over the Berkeley Hills has an equally impressive vertical (cloud-to-ground) component and horizontal (spider lightning) component.

Print No. A01-52-5

Strikes over Downtown

This is a close-up of the downtown San Francisco area from Twin Peaks with lightning hitting the Berkeley Hills on the other side of the bay. This was a 3-minute exposure.

Print No. A01-51-6