A rare photograph proves the existence of the phenomenon of bead lightning in the lower left. Bead lightning is lightning which appears to break up into a string of beads. There are several theories that have been proposed to explain it. It is relatively rare. This is a time exposure photograph in which there are multiple cloud to ground lightning strikes from the cumulonimbus cloud or thunderstorm. All the bolts on the right display continuity to the ground, continuous illuminated channels, whereas the bead lightning does not exhibit this. If it was a form of cloud to ground lightning then the spaces between the beads would be filled with light like the normal ionized channel of a lightning bolt. For a close section of this photograph, please see LTG049. Awesome and intense thunderstorms with powerful gust fronts, heavy rain, hail and lightning are common over the Arizona Desert during the summer months. Southwestern weather patterns create thunderstorms by pulling the fuel, moist air, either from the Pacific Baja side or the Gulf of Mexico and mixing it with the dry hot air rising up from the heated desert floor. Lightning is beautiful, but dangerous. The original photograph was photographed on film and is not retouched.