A high intensity discharge (HID) strobe lamp assembly including an HID lamp and circuitry arranged to maintain a current flow to the arc gap of the lamp throughout the powered operation of the lamp during strobing emissions as well as non-strobing operation. The lamp assembly thereby avoids problems incident to turn-on of the lamp for strobing emissions in prior lamps, in which long delay times between successive strobe emissions are necessary or high turn-on voltages are needed to flash the lamp. The lamp assembly of the invention avoids the requirement of long relaxation periods between successive strobe events and the need for high voltage conditions for strobing of the lamp, so that the lamp is able to operate in an efficient manner without generating EMI in the MegaHertz-GigaHertz range.