That's not St. Elmo's Fire, that's straight up electrostatic discharge. St. Elmo's Fire (as the name suggests) is more of a glow (more like an odd
flame), basically a
corona discharge.
I once had the privilege of seeing an entire pine tree light up with St. Elmo's Fire during a thunderstorm (the mountain peak I was on was physically
inside the thundercloud). Privilege, and terror: I was sheltering under that tree, and I knew what it meant. The subsequent parade of groundstrokes put any version of
War of the Worlds to shame...
I’m glad I’m not the only one.
I was looking at that and staying that not St Elmo fire because it sure not like any St Elmo fire description I’ve ever read
“That’s not St Elmo’s Fire,,,”
You are correct. I have seen St Elmo’s Fire and that’s not it.