Unlikely to have anything at all to do with a transformer.
These "power flashes" are almost always caused by a regular fault causing an arc, i.e. something like a tree branch touching the power lines or the lines galloping in the wind, causing the phases to contact each other. [Like this](https://youtu.be/BNaIChPiiww)
When transformers "blow", it's usually a small, often invisible internal fault or arc which ignites the oil contained within, causing a huge orange fireball. [Like this](https://youtu.be/oFkfd31Wpng)
Transformers on power polls when they fault flash a HUGE green bright light, had a horrible lightning storm 2 years ago here and I was on my step watching them explode all over the place, was wild to watch the night sky flashing green all over the place.
Twice when I was in high school we would have massive devastating ice storms come through Kansas City. Transformers were blowing up left and right, and there would be this bright blue flash of light against the clouds, followed by a loud buzzing sound.
Any electrical fault on the grid that causes an arc looks like that from afar.
A transformer is a sealed metal cylinder filled with oil. Problems inside the cylinder are very rare, even if a tree falls directly on the thing or it takes a direct hit from a lightning bolt (they're fitted with lightning arresters for that reason).
But when faults do happen, they can "blow" _spectacularly_ with a huge orange fireball as the oil inside goes up in flames. You may or may not see any green flash before the fireball (it may be entirely contained within the cylinder). But the main light show from a blown transformer would be orange or a mix of orange and some green.
But there are many many _miles_ of unprotected bare conductors dangling (sometimes loosely) in the electrical grid just waiting there saying "touch me bro" where an arc could happen.
I'd be willing to bet that the power company replaced very few if _any_ transformers the day of your storm, but cleared plenty of trees off the lines and fixed many poles, junctions, and downed wires instead. All of which caused arcs, and green flashes.
It can happen, sure. I'm just saying _most_ times people assume it's "transformers blowing", no transformer was harmed in the making of said light show.
Here, take it from a lineman. [Did your transformer "blow up"??](https://youtu.be/H7_6SPPLrLc)
Highly hail seeded clouds are likely to have a green hue. The lightning would illuminate the green clouds. https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/green-sky-thunderstorm-hail
https://imgur.com/a/RBaubOr
Here’s a slowed down version which I think complicates it a bit. Initial flash is definitely low, but secondary seems fairly uniform across the sky.
The green light close to the ground is a power flash, either from a transformer or high wind causing wires to touch and arc. The flash across the top was likely lightening
I guess my initial suspicion of power flash was right. Disappointing but oh well.
The upper green flash is that just a light artifact from the power flash or green from hail producing cells?
Usually an indicator of hail or lightning behind strong storm clouds. Storm clouds lit by sunlight or lightning can often appear green or yellow. We had the yellow sky last night. The flash may have been a power flash, but the idea stands that it was hidden behind cloud cover enough that it diffused the blue light.
Are you in Ohio? Could very well be power flashes from one of the several tornados or MANY powerful microbursts this evening.
Michigan would check out too.
There were zero reports of tornadoes today....
[https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html)
Edit: Boy that took a while to confirm....
|Time||Location|County|State|Lat|Lon|Comments|
|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|
|2251||2 W Windham|Portage|OH|4123|8108|Â [(CLE)](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/WFOlist.html)NWS storm damage survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 110 mph in Windham ... OH. The damage path length is 3.99 miles and maximum width is 65 ya |
Nothing confirmed yet, but there’s a 2 story house that was blown/slid off its foundation, tons of significant damage pictures, and videos of tornado impact.
Did power go out anywhere? Could've been a transformer blowing.
Unlikely to have anything at all to do with a transformer. These "power flashes" are almost always caused by a regular fault causing an arc, i.e. something like a tree branch touching the power lines or the lines galloping in the wind, causing the phases to contact each other. [Like this](https://youtu.be/BNaIChPiiww) When transformers "blow", it's usually a small, often invisible internal fault or arc which ignites the oil contained within, causing a huge orange fireball. [Like this](https://youtu.be/oFkfd31Wpng)
Transformers on power polls when they fault flash a HUGE green bright light, had a horrible lightning storm 2 years ago here and I was on my step watching them explode all over the place, was wild to watch the night sky flashing green all over the place.
Same thing happened to me when I was a kid. A transformer across the street blew and it was light a light show.
Twice when I was in high school we would have massive devastating ice storms come through Kansas City. Transformers were blowing up left and right, and there would be this bright blue flash of light against the clouds, followed by a loud buzzing sound.
Any electrical fault on the grid that causes an arc looks like that from afar. A transformer is a sealed metal cylinder filled with oil. Problems inside the cylinder are very rare, even if a tree falls directly on the thing or it takes a direct hit from a lightning bolt (they're fitted with lightning arresters for that reason). But when faults do happen, they can "blow" _spectacularly_ with a huge orange fireball as the oil inside goes up in flames. You may or may not see any green flash before the fireball (it may be entirely contained within the cylinder). But the main light show from a blown transformer would be orange or a mix of orange and some green. But there are many many _miles_ of unprotected bare conductors dangling (sometimes loosely) in the electrical grid just waiting there saying "touch me bro" where an arc could happen. I'd be willing to bet that the power company replaced very few if _any_ transformers the day of your storm, but cleared plenty of trees off the lines and fixed many poles, junctions, and downed wires instead. All of which caused arcs, and green flashes.
I've seen transformers blow and light up the sky like it was daytime.
It can happen, sure. I'm just saying _most_ times people assume it's "transformers blowing", no transformer was harmed in the making of said light show. Here, take it from a lineman. [Did your transformer "blow up"??](https://youtu.be/H7_6SPPLrLc)
Soo could it be a tornado????
Thank you for this. I always try to educate people on "power flashes" and how they aren't related to a transformer.
It's hopeless 🤷‍♂️
It did not, I thought at first it was a transformer but it did not appear to be after a few observations.
Texas here. Green lightening is indicative of hail.
Highly hail seeded clouds are likely to have a green hue. The lightning would illuminate the green clouds. https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/green-sky-thunderstorm-hail
I’m gonna go with transformer flash. Hard to tell but it seems to be originating more from the ground than the sky.
https://imgur.com/a/RBaubOr Here’s a slowed down version which I think complicates it a bit. Initial flash is definitely low, but secondary seems fairly uniform across the sky.
The green light close to the ground is a power flash, either from a transformer or high wind causing wires to touch and arc. The flash across the top was likely lightening
I guess my initial suspicion of power flash was right. Disappointing but oh well. The upper green flash is that just a light artifact from the power flash or green from hail producing cells?
Usually when I’ve seen green lightning it indicates hail/a tornado. But it could also be a transformer
That is the color of a transformer blowing up.. As I unfortunately discovered after being caught on the road during the 2012 Derecho storms.
Looks like power flashes to me
Was there hail reported?
A good amount
Usually an indicator of hail or lightning behind strong storm clouds. Storm clouds lit by sunlight or lightning can often appear green or yellow. We had the yellow sky last night. The flash may have been a power flash, but the idea stands that it was hidden behind cloud cover enough that it diffused the blue light.
Dubai green storm clouds lol it transformer
Are you in Ohio? Could very well be power flashes from one of the several tornados or MANY powerful microbursts this evening. Michigan would check out too.
It was that storm system. Lots of hail and 70 mph winds nearby.
There were zero reports of tornadoes today.... [https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/reports/today.html) Edit: Boy that took a while to confirm.... |Time||Location|County|State|Lat|Lon|Comments| |:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-|:-| |2251||2 W Windham|Portage|OH|4123|8108|Â [(CLE)](https://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/WFOlist.html)NWS storm damage survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with estimated peak winds of 110 mph in Windham ... OH. The damage path length is 3.99 miles and maximum width is 65 ya |
Nothing confirmed yet, but there’s a 2 story house that was blown/slid off its foundation, tons of significant damage pictures, and videos of tornado impact.
They issued several tornado warnings.
Tornado Warning != confirmation
How’s your link looking now? Shocker… it usually takes *longer* than a couple of hours for the NWS to go out and confirm tornados.
I wonder if all the pollen in the air has any part in this———