From the clouds to a nearby tree or roof , a lightning bolt takes a only a few thousandths of a second to split through the air . 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.
As lightning connects to the ground from the clouds, a second stroke of lightning will return from the ground to the clouds, following the same channel as the first strike . the lightning takes so little time to go from point A to point B, the heated air has no time to expand. The heated air is compressed, raising the air from 10 to 100 times the normal atmospheric pressure. The compressed air explodes outward from the channel, forming a shock wave of compressed particles in every direction. Like an explosion, the rapidly expanding waves of compressed air create a loud, booming burst of noise.
Because the electricity follows the shortest route, most lightning bolts are close to vertical .
The shock waves nearer to the ground reach your ear first, followed by the crashing of the shock waves from higher up . Vertical lightning is often heard in one long rumble. However, if a lightning bolt is forked, the sounds change. The shock waves from the different forks of lightning bounce off each other,the low hanging clouds , and nearby hills to create a series of lower , continuous grumbles of thunder .
Thunder fun facts :
*To judge how close lightning is , count the seconds between the flash and the thunderclaps . Each second represents about 300 meter (984.25 feet )
* Thunder is not only heard during thunderstorms. It is uncommon , but not rare , to hear thunder when it is snowing .
*Lightning does not always create thunder .
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