How do thunderstorms produce lightning and thunder?
Quick Answer
Thunderstorms build electrical charge inside tall clouds, and lightning is the discharge that equalizes that charge; thunder is the sound of the air heating and expanding rapidly.
The Full Story
Strong updrafts and downdrafts inside a thunderstorm separate electric charges, usually leaving the top of the cloud positively charged and the lower parts negatively charged. When the difference becomes large enough, a lightning bolt forms between cloud regions or between the cloud and the ground. The lightning superheats the surrounding air to around 30,000 degrees Celsius, causing it to expand explosively. That rapid expansion creates the sound wave we hear as thunder.
Key Facts
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"Why does lightning flash before thunder arrives?"
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