Forked Lightning

Cloud-to-cloud (CTC) lightning that has the appearance of retracing its path at upper left continues outward ending in many forks around 8:55 PM on Monday, September 6, 2010. The approaching thunderstorm (SW sky, directly ahead) was only minutes away. Note the small black cloud between the camera and the lightning bolt at top center. The building below is one of several units for Colton Circle Condominiums in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The tower in the background, owned by Century Communications LLC, appears to have been nearly struck by the bolt but in reality it was much closer to the observer than the lightning. This was a 10-second exposure at f/10, focal length of 18mm and an ISO of 200.