Nature's Pyrotechnics: When lightning strikes

In a Tuesday, May 1, 2012 photo, a double rainbow appears in the sky as lightning strikes during a severe thunderstorm in Hamilton, Ohio. Strong thunderstorms caused multiple lightening strikes in the area. (AP)

Lightning strikes over buildings during a thunderstorm in Kiev May 15, 2012. (Reuters)

Flashes of lightning light the sky during a heavy thunderstorm near the city of Annaberg-Buchholz, eastern Germany, early Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP)

A rainbow is seen in the sky as lightning strikes after a rainstorm in Haikou, Hainan province, May 13, 2012. Picture taken May 13, 2012. (Reuters)

Lightning strikes behind the campanile on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kan. , Wednesday, May 30, 2012. (AP)

Lightning flashes over Creston, Iowa, early Sunday, April 15, 2012. A powerful storm raked across Creston Saturday night, leaving a wake of overturned cars, downed power lines, property damage to homes, the hospital and Southwestern Community College. (AP)

Lightning flashes during a thunderstorm over Mexico City April 11, 2012. (Reuters)

Lightning streaks across the sky in Tyler, Texas as a powerful line of thunderstorms, several spawning tornados moved across Texas, Tuesday evening, April 3, 2012. (AP)

Lightning strikes near the venue as spectators arrive ahead of the men's NCAA Final Four championship college basketball game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks in New Orleans, Louisiana, April 2, 2012. (Reuters)

Lightning flashes over the city of Tegucigalpa during a thunderstorm April 3, 2012. Powerful thunderstorms on Tuesday left the city without power for at least two hours, according to local media. (Reuters)

Lightning flashes over the city of Tegucigalpa during a thunderstorm April 3, 2012. Powerful thunderstorms on Tuesday left the city without power for at least two hours, according to local media. (Reuters)

Lightning strikes over buildings during a thunderstorm in central Bangkok March 26, 2012. (Reuters)

Lighning photographed in 1882. (Photographer: William N. Jennings, c. 1882)

Lightning striking the Eiffel Tower, June 3, 1902, at 9:20 P.M. This is one of the earliest photographs of lightning in an urban setting In:"Thunder and Lightning", Camille Flammarion, translated by Walter Mostyn Published in 1906. (NOAA)

Lightning bolts hitting Atlanta skyscrapers. (David Selby)

Lightning strikes the Space Shuttle Challenger before the launch of STS-8. (NASA)

The lightning is seen on the sky above the Donbass Arena during the Group D Euro 2012 soccer match Ukraine vs France in Donetsk, June 15, 2012. The game was suspended due to heavy rain and thunder storm. (Reuters)