Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises into cold air . The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture, called water vapor, to form small water droplets – a process called condensation. ... This circuit of rising and falling air is called a convection cell. If this happens a small amount, a cloud will form.
How does a thunderstorm form step by step?
Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises into cold air. The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture, called water vapor, to form small water droplets – a process called condensation . The cooled air drops lower in the atmosphere, warms and rises again.
How are thunderstorms formed?
Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises into cold air . The warm air becomes cooler, which causes moisture, called water vapor, to form small water droplets – a process called condensation. The cooled air drops lower in the atmosphere, warms and rises again.
How is thunder and lightning caused?
Answer. Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a 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.
What are the dangers of thunderstorms?
Thunderstorms are dangerous because they include lightning, high winds, and heavy rain that can cause flash floods . Remember, it is a severe thunderstorm that produces a tornado. By definition, a thunderstorm is a rain shower that contains lightning.
Why do thunderstorms happen at night?
Thunderstorms that form at night occur in the absence of heating at the ground by the sun . Consequently, the storms that form at night are usually “elevated,” meaning that they form aloft above the cooler air near the ground, rather than near the ground, which only during the day can get warmer.
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.
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 ). ...
Who is the god of thunder?
In Germanic mythology, Thor (/θɔːr/; from Old Norse: Þórr
Is it safe to watch TV in a thunderstorm?
It isn’t dangerous to watch TV during a thunderstorm , but the electronics in a TV set are vulnerable. If you have to make a telephone call, use a mobile phone detached from its cable rather than a landline device. Over-voltages resulting from a lightning strike may follow electrical conductors into the handset.
What’s the worst thunderstorm in history?
Iowa Derecho Listed the Worst Thunderstorm Disaster in U.S. History. DES MOINES, Iowa — The derecho storm in Iowa from this summer is the most expensive thunderstorm disaster in U.S. history. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is estimating total damage valued at $7.5 billion.
What is the safest place during a thunderstorm?
The safest location during a thunderstorm is inside a large enclosed structure with plumbing and electrical wiring . These include shopping centers, schools, office buildings, and private residences.
Why are thunderstorms so loud?
However, the grumbles and growls we hear in thunderstorms actually come from the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the lightning bolt . ... As the heated air expands, the pressure drops, the air cools, and it contracts. The result is a shock wave, with a loud, booming burst of noise sent in every direction.
Does cell phones attract lightning?
Following worldwide media interest in the letter, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded, saying lightning is not attracted to people carrying mobile phones : “People are struck because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
How can I get over my fear of thunderstorms?
Get a referral to a mental health counselor who is trained in CBT . You may even want to have the therapist make a “house visit” during a storm so that you can practice your deep breathing and receive counseling during the actual storm.
What happens if lightning strikes your house?
If your home gets struck by lightning, you will hear a very loud, powerful boom that might shake your entire house . ... When a lightning charge travels through electrical wiring, it can cause an explosive surge. This may cause a fire and almost certainly will destroy the wires.
