Overview
A video shared on Reddit has drawn attention for what the post describes as a luminous, saucer-shaped unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) moving across the sky during a lightning storm. According to the post, the object appears to make abrupt changes in direction. However, the footage has not been independently authenticated, and there is currently no confirmed identification of the object or reliable evidence establishing when or where the recording was made.
The discussion has been associated with a National Weather Service review of a severe storm near Billings, Montana, on September 7, 2013. That document, titled Review of September 7th, 2013 Severe Weather Event, was published online by the NWS Billings office and lists the storm’s heavy rainfall, hail, strong winds and frequent lightning. The weather review does not identify or analyze a UAP, nor does it mention the Reddit video.
Severe Weather Conditions
The NWS report describes a particularly intense period of weather in and around Billings. Radar imagery showed a concentrated area of heavy precipitation moving east of the city, while lightning data recorded numerous strikes between approximately 8:45 and 9:30 a.m. MDT on September 7. The agency noted that such lightning activity can accompany extremely heavy rainfall, particularly when abundant subtropical moisture is present.
The storm’s rainfall intensity was among the most notable features of the event. Using dual-polarization radar data, meteorologists estimated precipitation rates exceeding six inches per hour southeast of Billings at about 9:12 a.m. The report said these were among the highest rates observed in southeastern Montana since the area’s radar had been upgraded in 2011. At Billings Logan International Airport, recorded precipitation increased from a trace at 9:03 a.m. to more than 1.31 inches within 21 minutes.
What the Video Shows—and Does Not Establish
The Reddit post’s description presents the object as a glowing disk or saucer that changes direction sharply against a storm-darkened sky. Such visual behavior can appear unusual, but the available information does not establish the object’s distance, speed, altitude or actual trajectory. Without camera metadata, multiple viewing angles or corroborating witnesses, apparent motion may be affected by perspective, camera movement, rain on the lens, reflections, insects or other nearby objects.
Lightning and heavy precipitation can also create difficult optical conditions. Bright flashes may briefly illuminate clouds or suspended water droplets, while autofocus and exposure adjustments can make distant lights appear to jump or change shape. These possibilities do not determine what is shown in the recording, but they underscore why a visual impression alone is insufficient to confirm an anomalous aerial craft.
Assessment and Context
The NWS material provides credible documentation that Billings experienced intense rainfall and frequent lightning during the referenced storm, but it offers no independent support for the video’s interpretation. At present, the object remains unidentified rather than confirmed as an extraterrestrial or technologically advanced vehicle. Further assessment would require the original, uncompressed footage; information about the camera and location; precise timing; weather and radar correlation; and any additional recordings from the area. Until such evidence becomes available, the video is best treated as an unverified UAP claim occurring against the backdrop of a well-documented severe weather event.
