# Does ball lightning form at the point where lightning strikes, or in the electric field near storms? · Ball lightning > Three answers have been proposed. Balls form at or near ground strike points. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:54+00:00 --- **0** # Does ball lightning form at the point where lightning strikes, or in the electric field near storms? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What forms and powers ball lightning?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5FY652V/what-forms-and-powers-ball-lightning)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: balls form at or near ground strike points** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Balls form at or near ground strike points. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The silicon and microwave models tie the ball to the stroke; a field-driven model does not. Lightning-location networks can now test this against reports⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YDC28Z6/assessment-of-ball-lightning-cases-by-correlated-lls-data)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YN66BYC/applying-modern-meteorological-tools-to-the-study-of-ball). ## Answers 3 [**Balls form at or near ground strike points.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40AE964NRZ/balls-form-at-or-near-ground-strike-points) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**Balls form in the electric fields near storms, not necessarily at a stroke.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40AF8E6BC3/balls-form-in-the-electric-fields-near-storms-not) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/answers/ANS0D40AFZW7JTN/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1966[Rayle: rayle's first category appears after a stroke to ground and stays near the ground.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XXR05T8/ball-lightning-characteristics-nasa-tn-d-3188)For: Balls form at or near ground strike points. 1. 1966[Rayle: rayle's second category is first seen in mid-air and vanishes without disturbance.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409XXR05T8/ball-lightning-characteristics-nasa-tn-d-3188)For: Balls form in the electric fields near storms, not necessarily at a stroke. 1. 2014[Cen et al.: the 2012 ball formed at a cloud-to-ground strike point.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409VFM7MZ3/observation-of-the-optical-and-spectral-characteristics-of)For: Balls form at or near ground strike points. 1. 2018[Keul & Diendorfer puts forward: balls form at or near ground strike points.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YDC28Z6/assessment-of-ball-lightning-cases-by-correlated-lls-data) 1. 2018[Keul & Diendorfer: in 34 European cases, close events lay a mean 0.42 km from a stroke, and stronger strokes were closer.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YDC28Z6/assessment-of-ball-lightning-cases-by-correlated-lls-data)For: Balls form at or near ground strike points. 1. 2020[Sonnenfeld et al. puts forward: balls form in the electric fields near storms, not necessarily at a stroke.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YN66BYC/applying-modern-meteorological-tools-to-the-study-of-ball) 1. 2020[Sonnenfeld et al.: for the best-located US report the nearest strike was 2.3 km away.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D409YN66BYC/applying-modern-meteorological-tools-to-the-study-of-ball)For: Balls form in the electric fields near storms, not necessarily at a stroke. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5ZJ387Q/does-ball-lightning-form-at-the-point-where-lightning%23add-source) Where it fits Ball lightning [**What forms and powers ball lightning?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5FY652V/what-forms-and-powers-ball-lightning)Key question · most likely lightning vaporises soil silica; silicon nanoparticle networks glow as they slowly oxidise **Does ball lightning form at the point where lightning strikes, or in the electric field near storms?** You're here · balls form at or near ground strike points [Does the 2012 Qinghai recording show a ball of burning soil vapour?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/ball-lightning/questions/QST0D40A5QR3YCV/does-the-2012-qinghai-recording-show-a-ball-of-burning-soil)Most likely · yes; it was a ball of vaporised soil elements sustained after the stroke [ Ask a question under this one ]