Types of Lightning Cloud to Ground Lightning The most visible form of lightning for humans is a cloud to ground discharge. In a cloud to ground discharge, a channel of negatively charged particles will zig-zag towards the ground (in less time than it takes to blink), and is attracted to the positively charged ground. When these two charges connect, an electric current begins to flow creating a quick flash of light.     https://lightning.nsstc.nasa.gov/primer/primer2.html            https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uAOSu9LFb3g/maxresdefault.jpg Intracloud Lightning      The most common form of lightning is Intracloud lightning. This occurs when the electric charge jumps between the different charge regions of the cloud. Often called "sheet" lighting because it illuminates the sky as a "sheet" of light. Intracloud lightning will most often occur within a single storm/cloud system, but it can also jump between nearby clouds.        http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/types/                                        http://www.shermdavis.info/sheet-lightning/  Physics of Lightning Sprites, Blue Jets, and Elves