When I was 16, I had lightning strike about 40' from me... took out my grandmother's clothsline pole...
For about a half-second before the strike, you can feel the 'static' charge build around you, then there is the most gawdawful bang and flash... all at the same time, and then afterwards, there is a very sharp odour... either ozone or nitric oxide... dunno which... didn't notice any heat... might have just been shock...
Dik