Whether thunder clears the air is a common misconception. While thunderstorms can sometimes provide relief from hot, humid weather, they don't always clear the air in the way many people think.
Here's a breakdown:
According to the reference, it's often said that a good thunderstorm will clear the air, helping to break humidity and cool things down. However, this isn't always the case.
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Updrafts and Downdrafts: Thunderstorms have both updrafts and downdrafts. The downdraft is what can bring cooler air and a sense of relief, but its effects are localized and temporary.
- Updraft: The updraft pulls warm, moist air upwards, fueling the storm.
- Downdraft: The downdraft brings cooler air down, sometimes with rain.
Therefore, while thunderstorms can sometimes bring a temporary feeling of "cleared" air due to cooler temperatures and lower humidity caused by downdrafts, thunder itself doesn't clear the air. The effect is due to the meteorological processes within the storm, not the sound of thunder.
