ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

St. Elmo's fire

St. Elmo's fire is like a sparkly electric explosion in the sky that sometimes happens when there is a storm or a big lightning strike. You know how sometimes you rub your feet on the carpet and then touch a metal doorknob and you get a little spark? Well, St. Elmo's fire is kind of like that, but much bigger and prettier!

When lightning strikes, it creates a lot of electrical energy in the air, and sometimes this energy makes the air around it light up with a sparkly glow. This glow can look like a flickering blue or green flame, and it can appear on the tops of tall objects like buildings, trees or ship masts, as well as airplane wings and propellers.

St. Elmo's fire got its name from the aurora of Saint Elmo, which is the patron saint of sailors. Long ago, sailors would see this glowing phenomenon during storms at sea, and they believed it was a sign from Saint Elmo that their ship would be safe and they would make it through the storm.

Although St. Elmo's fire is pretty to look at, it's actually a sign of danger. It means there's a lot of electricity in the air, which can be harmful or even deadly if you touch it. So, if you ever see St. Elmo's fire in the sky, it's important to stay inside and away from anything that conducts electricity until the storm passes.