Rare 'Gigantic Jets' of Upside-Down Lightning Captured in Atlantic Hurricane

Photographer Frankie Lucena captured rare "gigantic jets" of upside-down lightning shooting upward out of a storm cloud during Hurricane Franklin. These upward-moving lightning bolts, which occur as few as 1,000 times a year, can climb more than 50 miles above Earth's surface. While scientists have known about the phenomenon for about 20 years, much about it remains a mystery. The bolts may be the result of a blockage preventing lightning from escaping through the bottom of the cloud. Atlantic hurricane season has just begun, providing more opportunities to observe and study these rare lightning events.