A high‐energy exploding wire facility has been used to electrically explode thin metallic foils. Striation patterns are described for which the striation spacing appears to be dependent only on foil thickness and material. Magnetic probe measurements near the foil surface make evident the presence of shear currents in the foil which are believed to be, in part, responsible for the striation phenomena. The explanation of the striation phenomena described in this paper may aid in explaining the striated appearance of exploding wires in general.