It is believed that cloud-to-ground lightning is vertical, but, according to worldwide research, this lightning can travel horizontally 10, 15, 20 km and even more, resulting in a lightning strike without a previous storm, with a clear sky. The conditions for a dry lightning strike are those of any thunderstorm, the interaction between particles with different charges.

In January 2013, a security camera at the Rionegro airport in Antioquia, Colombia, recorded a dry lightning strike on an aircraft while it was parked.

In another case, just a few days ago, more than 70 soldiers were affected by this phenomenon. This happened when suddenly and without the threat of rain, lightning struck in the middle of the platoon.

For this reason, if a thunderstorm is visible in the distance, experts recommend suspending all outdoor activities.