Thunderstorms and lightning are fascinating and powerful weather phenomena. Here's a breakdown of the key facts:
Thunderstorm Basics
A thunderstorm is a localized storm produced by cumulonimbus clouds and accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Severe Thunderstorms
According to the reference material, thunderstorms are classified as severe if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Produce hail at least ¾ of an inch in diameter.
- Have winds of at least 58 miles per hour or higher.
- Produce a tornado.
Lightning Facts
- All thunderstorms contain lightning. This is a core defining characteristic.
- Thunder is caused by the rapid heating and cooling of air near the lightning channel. The superheating creates a sonic boom we hear as thunder.
Thunder
- Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid heating of the air surrounding a lightning strike.
- Since light travels faster than sound, you see lightning before you hear thunder.
- You can estimate how far away a thunderstorm is by counting the seconds between the lightning flash and the thunderclap. Each 5 seconds roughly equates to 1 mile.
