Mysterious red light flashes appeared in France; what was it in the sky? Here’s a look

On some stormy nights, while most eyes are fixed on the weather unfolding below, something far rarer happens high above the clouds. That’s exactly what happened in mid-August last year, when the skies over parts of eastern France lit up– not with regular lightning, but with something much more elusive: red sprites.
These mesmerizing, rare flashes of red light appeared during intense summer storms and were spotted by a few lucky photographers who happened to be looking up at just the right moment. Their stunning photos, still making the rounds online, capture a phenomenon so brief and rare that most people never get the chance to see it with their own eyes.
What are red sprites?
Red sprites are large bursts of electricity that shoot up from storm clouds, sometimes reaching the edge of space. According to a report presented by connexionfrance(dot)com, they usually happen between 30 and 70 kilometres above the ground, much higher than normal lightning. They don't flash brightly or make any noise. Instead, they appear for just a few milliseconds, which makes them very hard to see. Spotting red sprites is rare since they need just the right storm conditions, clear skies, and perfect timing. Taking a photo of them is even harder.
Captured in the skies above Rhône-Alpes and beyond

According to connexionfrance(dot)com, photographer Christophe Suarez, who specializes in atmospheric and environmental photography, captured the event from the Rhône-Alpes region during the night of August 13–14, 2024. His images show delicate red streaks shooting into the sky above the storm.
As per the report, speaking to Nice-Matin, Suarez said: “The atmosphere around the storm must be clear. It doesn't even last a millisecond, which makes it almost imperceptible. I've only seen it twice with the naked eye.”
His photos, later shared on social media, gave a clear look at what many only read about in science journals or see in specialist footage. The conditions that night made it possible for this rare display to unfold– and for it to be caught in frame.

Another rare sighting over Lake Geneva
Elsewhere, near the town of Évian by Lake Geneva (lac Léman), another photographer, Marc Favre, also managed to capture red sprites as they appeared above the storm clouds. He had just finished work and was on his way home when he first pointed his lens toward the sky. “I caught the first ones without realising it,” he shared on the Info Climat website, according to the report. “A little later, I spotted (with my naked eye!) one of these sprites above the clouds! I quickly checked my [camera] shots.”
Realising the opportunity, Favre adjusted his setup and continued photographing the sky until just after 4 a.m., when cloud cover finally rolled in and obscured the view.
“This is only the third time I've managed to photograph this phenomenon,” he added. “But it's the first time I've seen such imposing and relatively well-defined examples! It's particularly satisfying to have seen them with the naked eye too.”
A second appearance
This wasn’t Suarez’s only encounter with red sprites. According to connexionfrance(dot)com, in May 2024, he also captured them above the skies of Nice, making 2024 an unusually active year for these high-altitude events in France. While sightings are still unpredictable, moments like these remind us that our atmosphere holds many secrets, often hidden just above the storms we think we understand.
Nature’s hidden light show
Events like these pass by unnoticed by most, but they reveal a fascinating side of weather science that is still being explored. Thanks to photographers who patiently track these atmospheric events, we get rare glimpses into the lesser-known layers of the sky– and reminders of how much natural beauty takes place just outside our regular line of sight.
Thumb Image Credit: X/@suarezphoto