AbstractHigh speed spectra (between ∼380 nm and ∼800 nm) of meter‐long lightning‐like discharges recorded at 672,000 fps and 1,400,000 fps (with 1.488 and 0.714 μs time resolutions and 160 ns exposure time) show optical emissions of neutral hydrogen, singly ionized nitrogen, oxygen, and doubly ionized nitrogen which are similar to those found in natural lightning optical emissions. The spectra recorded in the near ultraviolet‐blue range (380–450 nm) and visible‐near infrared (475–793 nm) exhibited features of optical emissions corresponding to several molecular species (and emission bands) like cyanide radical (CN) (Violet bands), N2 (Second Positive System), N2+ (first negative system), C2 (Swan band) and CO (Quintet and Ångström bands). Molecular species can be formed at regions of the lightning‐like channel where the gas temperature would be milder and/or in the corona sheath surrounding the heated channel. We have quantified and compared electron densities and temperatures derived from different sets of neutral and ion line emissions and have found different sensitivities depending on the lines used. Temperatures derived from ion emissions are higher and change faster than those derived from neutral emissions.