Anyone recognise what I'm talking about here? We always called it
"wildfire," as I was growing up in Scotland, but I can't find any references
online using that name, and I'd like to know the correct word.

When you're driving across the moors late at night, and it's really dark and
there's heavy cloud clover, you suddenly see a flash in the distance. No
sound of thunder. No rain. Just a flash. It's a pretty small flash, though
bright and quite intense, which could mean it's far away. Drive a few miles
and there's another flash. And more, at intermittent intervals. That's what
we call wildfire.

I was always aware it was some sort of lightning-related phenomenon, and
this evening I found myself thinking about it, so I went online to search
for info, but couldn't find anything. I don't know the proper name for this,
so I can't look it up. Any ideas?

Thanks!

ally