If you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then
divide by 5
, you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile, 15 seconds = 3 miles, 0 seconds = very close.
What is the 30 30 rule for lightning?
After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30,
go indoors
. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find adequate shelter.
How far away is a lightning strike if you hear the thunderclap?
How far away is a thunderstorm? When you are out in the great outdoors and have no internet access, you can calculate the distance of a storm using the simple 3-second rule: Just count the seconds between when you see the lightning strike and
when you hear the thunder clap and divide this number by three
.
How long would it take to hear thunder from a lightning strike 2 miles away?
| If thunder is heard The lightning is . . . | 10 seconds after a flash 2 miles away | 15 seconds after a flash 3 miles away | 20 seconds after a flash 4 miles away | 25 seconds after a flash 5 miles away |
|---|
How far can thunder be seen?
If thunder is rumbling and crashing overhead, how far can the sound be heard? Thunder, the sound produced by lightning, generally cannot be heard more than
about 15 miles from the nearest point of the lightning bolt from
you.
Why does thunder sound like a bomb?
What sounded like an explosion, this rare weather phenomenon is actually caused
when the air close to the ground is warm enough to cause a thunderstorm
, while the cold air above produces snow. … So this explains the explosive sound and the rude awakening for some.
Can you shower during a thunderstorm?
No. Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a lightning storm.
Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or
wash your hands.
Is lightning hotter than the sun?
In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (
5 times hotter than the surface of the sun
). …
Whats faster lightning or sound?
Lightning heats the air and causes shock waves. … But you see lightning before you hear thunder because light, which travels a million
times faster than sound
, arrives almost instantly. Sound, on the other hand, takes about five seconds to travel one mile.
What signs will tell you that a lightning is close enough to harm you?
Equate thunder with lightning, even if lightning is not visible where you are.
If you can hear thunder
, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Even if you can’t hear thunder, you might nonetheless be at risk.
How do you tell if a storm is coming or going?
- Towering Cumulus Clouds: Cumulous clouds are those fluffy, cotton ball guys. …
- Shelf Clouds: These look exactly what they sound like: shelves in the sky. …
- Wall Clouds. …
- Cloud Movement. …
- Drastic Temperature Change. …
- Sudden Wind Changes. …
- Smoke Direction. …
- Follow Your Nose.
What is the farthest thunder can be heard?
Thunder can be heard
up to 25 miles away
, and lightning strikes have been documented to occur as far as 25 miles from thunderstorms – known as a “bolt from the blue.” So if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning, and sheltering indoors or in an enclosed car is your safest bet.
What comes first thunder or lightning?
In nature, a
lightning flash
and the associated thunder occur at almost the same time in a thunderstorm. A person on the ground sees the lightning flash before hearing the thunder because light at a speed of around 300,000,000 meters per second travels much faster than sound which moves at 340 meters per second.
Why does thunder shake a house?
Why does the house shake when there is a thunder storm? Your house will
shake depending the closeness of the lightning
. Thunder is a sonic boom that comes from the rapid heating of the air around a lightning strike. Sonic booms cause massive shaking to nearby objects (your house).
Is really loud thunder bad?
Other than the threat of the lightning itself, does thunder — especially very loud thunder — pose any threat to people near the lightning strike? … The shock wave and thunder (at very close range to the lightning bolt) can cause property damage, but
no injuries have been reported
.
What does it mean when thunder is really loud?
Why is thunder so loud? It’s because
the amount of electrical energy that flows from the cloud to the ground is so enormous
: it’s like a very big waterfall of electricity. The louder the sound that you hear, the closer you are to the lightning. Light travels through air much faster than sound.
