TAMPA, FLORIDA: Air Force pilots evacuating in the wake of Hurricane Idalia filmed a neon discharge that leapt off the plane. It might have looked like lightning but the electrical discharge is known as "St. Elmo's Fire" — the phenomena typically happens during a thunderstorm and causes the distinctive neon glow.
The video that captured the stunning phenomenon in the dark night sky has since gone viral.
Is St. Elmo's Fire a rare phenomenon?
According to CBS News, Hurricane Idalia appeared to cause lightning bolts to spark out of the plane. However, the outlet reported that the video had captured a rare but natural phenomenon that is not ordinarily seen.
According to Jase Bernhardt, an associate professor and director of sustainability studies at Hofstra University, a St. Elmo's fire is created typically during a thunderstorm, if an extremely powerful electrical current touches a pointed object, like the mast of a ship or the tip of an airplane wing.
"The large number of electrons involved can glow for several minutes, like a neon sign," Bernhardt said to CBS News.
What is the difference between lightning and St. Elmo's Fire?
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises that "unprotected mariners should immediately move to shelter" if this happens on a ship since lightning may strike the mast five minutes after the glow starts.
That, according to Bernhardt, is predicated on the assumption that lightning may form in the same circumstances as St. Elmo's Fire if there is a strong enough electrical charge in the environment to do so.
But St. Elmo's Fire and lightning aren't the same thing. "St. Elmo's fire is like a sparking effect, where electrons cover much less distance," he added. "Lightning is a direct movement of electrons from a cloud to the ground."
He said that other circumstances, such as when a tall structure with a pointed top, like a lighthouse, is involved, can also result in the phenomena.
"You just need a strong thunderstorm generating a strong electrical field and then the right type of object — doesn't have to be an airplane or ship," Bernhardt stated.
"But, it seems to be most common for us to view this happening on a plane or ship, because they are often singular objects located in large, open spaces," he concluded.
Is St. Elmo's Fire dangerous to pilots?
St. Elmo's Fire poses a similar amount of risk to a plane as an ordinary lighting strike. Since aircrafts are made to endure lightning strikes, St. Elmo's Fire shouldn't be too harmful for pilots, according to Bernhardt.
Larger aircraft like commercial and military planes are probably not at risk of this, although there is a very small risk of a power or systems malfunction.
MacDill Air Force Base captures St. Elmo's Fire
The phenomenon can be seen in action in the video posted by the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, which was severely hit by the storm.
"All aircraft on the installation have been evacuated/secured in preparation for #HurricaneIdalia," said the post on X (previously Twitter).
"During the evacuation, the 50th ARS recorded St. Elmo's fire, a weather phenomenon in which luminous plasma is created in an atmospheric electric field."
What color is St. Elmo's fire?
The color of the light is determined by the type of gas involved. In a neon-gas atmosphere, St. Elmo's fire would be red/orange, and lightning would be white with orange edges.
When subjected to high voltage fields, the nitrogen and oxygen in our environment are light blue/violet, as per SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.
Internet Reacts to St.Elmo's Fire 2023
The footage of St. Elmo Fire, shot by the Air Force team, has gone viral, and internet users are astounded by the rare occurrence.
A user said, "That's wild!" Another user commented, " Looks like a Tesla Coil arc." "The lightning is dancing," claimed another. "OMG! Nonstop lighting, so intense," commented another.
