Ball lightning makes a rare appearance in recent storm in Stockbridge MA (Letter to editor)

I was not looking directly out a window, but I saw a brilliant flash of light outside and heard an associated boom. I noted that the light and the sound were simultaneous, which means that the strike was very close. Strangely, the thunder sound did not include ongoing rumble but resembled a gunshot. Later I looked around the area to find where this close-by lightning had struck, but I found nothing.

Then, discussing the event with my wife, I learned that she had been looking directly out the large glass windows of our pool room. She saw a ball of bright yellow light come down from above the trees to about six feet above the ground and then approach the house. She feared that it would hit the house, but it vanished with the explosive sound.