NUFORC Sighting 143099

Occurred: 2018-09-13 23:32 Local
Reported: 2018-09-14 07:08 Pacific
Duration: 5-6 seconds
No of observers: 1

Location: Helena, AL, USA

Shape: Light
Characteristics: Changed Colo

Ball lightning?

While sitting on my back porch last night, I observed what may have been ball lightning but I’m not sure. There were thunderstorms in the area with vivid lightning, but no active storms in the immediate area. It was 75 degrees F, humid with a light breeze and mostly cloudy.

Facing west at 8:32pm, seated and speaking on the phone, I observed a ball of light that was whitish-blue ascend diagonally about 20 degrees above the horizon. It appeared to level off slightly before changing to a pinkish-bluish-purple color as it arced back toward the ground to the point where my view was obstructed.

The event lasted 5 to 6 seconds. There were no sounds heard during the event or right after it occurred.

When the ball of light first appeared, it seemed to ascend, arcing toward the east/southeast. When it leveled off briefly, it seemed to travel toward the east. When the light descended, it appeared to arc toward the northeast. The brightness of the light seemed to get slightly brighter as it traveled, which makes me think it was moving closer to my position.

The ball of light looked like a roman candle type of light. No sparks were emitted from it like what happens as meteorites travel through the atmosphere.

Posted 2018-09-27

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