A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Climbing through 25;000 FT observed blue arcing in lower left side of CA FWD window followed by a loud bang.  The window had fractured over entire surface.  Followed QRH procedures and determined inner layer was intact.Immediately leveled at 26;000 FT and advised ATC of problem.  Contacted dispatch and decision was made to divert to Airport ZZZ.  Descended to lower altitude to reduce differential pressure and proceeded to ZZZ for normal landing with first officer flying.  No further difficulties encountered. Windshield heat shorted; but didn't have time to pull CB as per QRH.
An A320 Captain noted a blue arcing in the low left of his forward window prior to a loud bang and the entire window fracturing. After completing the QRH and determining an outer pane anomaly; the flight descended and diverted to a nearby airport.