What is the sound that follows lighting during a storm?
The loud thunder that follows the lightning bolt is commonly said to come from the bolt itself. However, the grumbles and growls we hear in thunderstorms actually come from the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the lightning bolt.
What causes the booming sound you hear after a lightning flash?
Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
Can a lightning storm be silent?
By definition, silent lightning is basically cloud-to-ground lightning that happens very far away, along with thunder that disappears before it reaches the observer. As a result, it cannot be heard.
What does lightning sound like up close?
The air around the lightning bolt expands faster than the speed of sound, which creates a shock wave of thunder. When you’re this close to the bolt, though, it sounds more like a bullet from a gun.
What does rolling thunder sound like?
With nearby lightning strikes the thunder will sound like a loud bang, crack or snap and its duration will be very short. As the shock wave propagates away from the strike center, it stretches, diminishes, and becomes elongated. Sound waves move faster in warm air than they do in cool air.
What does it sound like when lightning hits your house?
You will hear a loud and powerful “boom” like you would with most lightning strikes, but this one will be memorable and will shake your home. If your house or yard was hit, there may be a continuous buzzing or hissing sound following the strike.
What does it mean when thunder is extra loud?
The louder-than-normal thunder are common in Elevated Thunderstorms. These storms start to rise from the warm, muggy air above the ground.
Why do I see lightning but no rain?
Thunderstorms are usually accompanied by rain. Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground.