What do Thunderstorms sound like?
With nearby lightning strikes the thunder will sound like a loud bang, crack or snap and its duration will be very short. As the shock wave propagates away from the strike center, it stretches, diminishes, and becomes elongated. Then other shock waves from more distance locations arrive at the listener.
What is the sound that lightning makes?
Thunder is the sound that lightning makes.
Why does thunder sound like a bomb?
The sudden heating causes the surrounding air to expand violently and creates big sound waves, like what happens in a bomb explosion, along the entire length of the lightning bolt. We usually hear a loud boom followed by several seconds of rumble.
Why does thunder crack so loud?
Lightning cooks air so fast that the blast expands air to 48,632°F, resulting in an explosion in every direction. The compressed airwaves crack with a loud, booming burst of noise.
Does lightning make a sound?
The loud boom that you sometimes hear is created by the main lightning channel as it reaches the ground. Since you see lightning immediately and it takes the sound of thunder about 5 seconds to travel a mile, you can calculate the distance between you and the lightning.
Does lighting have sound?
A single stroke of lightning can heat the air around it to 30,000°C (54,000°F)! This extreme heating causes the air to expand explosively fast. The expansion creates a shock wave that turns into a booming sound wave, known as thunder.
What sound does lightning make before strikes?
Sizzling, or other similar sounds like crackling, hissing,, humming or buzzing often happen just before lightning strikes and that means the lightning may strike way too close for comfort.
Can you hear lightning buzz?
Electrical hums and buzzing may intensify as lightning approaches, and it should only happen once lightning is within a few seconds of striking. Of course, even when you know lightning will strike, you still need to do something about it.
What is the temperature of thunder?
Thunder is the acoustic shock wave resulting from the extreme heat generated by a lightning flash. Lightning can be as hot as 54,000°F(30,000°C), a temperature that is five times the surface of the sun!
How far can thunder be heard?
When this occurs, thunder will normally have an audible range up to 10 miles (16 km). However, when the air temperature increases with height, called an inversion, sound waves are refracted (bent back toward the earth) as they move due to their faster motion in the warmer air.
What happens when lightning strikes?
When lightning strikes a shock wave is generated at each point along the path of the lightning bolt. (The above illustrations show only four points.)
How does shock wave propagate?
As the shock wave propagates away from the strike center, it stretches, diminishes, and becomes elongated. Then other shock waves from more distance locations arrive at the listener. At large distances from the center, the shock wave (thunder) can be many miles across.
How does lightning expand?
When lightning occurs, it heats the air surrounding its channel to that same incredible temperature in a fraction of a second. Like all gases, when air molecules are heated, they expand. The faster they are heated, the faster their rate of expansion.
How far away can you hear thunder?
Typically, the air temperature decreases with height. When this occurs, thunder will normally have an audible range up to 10 miles (16 km).
Does thunder sound above the inversion?
If the lightning in these "elevated thunderstorms" remains above the inversion, then most of the thunder sound also remains above the inversion.
What is a thunderstorm?
A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.
What is a severe thunderstorm watch?
A Severe Thunderstorm WATCH is issued by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center meteorologists who are watching the weather 24/7 across the entire U.S. for weather conditions that are favorable for severe thunderstorms. A watch can cover parts of a state or several states.
What are the hazards of thunderstorms?
Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Lightning is responsible for many fires around the world each year, and causes fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Strong (up to more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down trees, power lines and mobile homes. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
What is a severe storm warning?
A Severe Thunderstorm WARNING is issued by your local NOAA National Weather Service Forecast Office meteorologists who watch a designated area 24/7 for severe weather that has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings mean there is a serious threat to life and property to those in the path of the storm. ACT now to find safe shelter! A warning can cover parts of counties or several counties in the path of danger.
What is the cloud that is being pushed upward by a rising column of air called?
The developing stage of a thunderstorm is marked by a cumulus cloud that is being pushed upward by a rising column of air (updraft). The cumulus cloud soon looks like a tower (called towering cumulus) as the updraft continues to develop. There is little to no rain during this stage but occasional lightning.
When a thunderstorm enters the mature stage, what happens?
The thunderstorm enters the mature stage when the updraft continues to feed the storm, but precipitation begins to fall out of the storm, creating a downdraft (a column of air pushing downward). When the downdraft and rain-cooled air spreads out along the ground it forms a gust front, or a line of gusty winds.
How fast can a tornado blow?
Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.
Why does thunder sound?
The sound of thunder should serve as a warning to anyone outside that they are within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately! Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand.
What does a crack in thunder sound like?
Typically, a sharp crack or click will indicate that the lightning channel passed nearby. If the thunder sounds more like a rumble, the lightning was at least several miles away. The loud boom that you sometimes hear is created by the main lightning channel as it reaches the ground.
How to tell if lightning is coming from the ground?
As you continue to listen, you'll hear the sound created from the portions of the channel farther and farther away. Typically, a sharp crack or click will indicate that the lightning channel passed nearby. If the thunder sounds more like a rumble, the lightning was at least several miles away. The loud boom that you sometimes hear is created by the main lightning channel as it reaches the ground.
How hot is lightning?
The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly.
Which Words Can Describe The Sound Of Thunder?
There aren’t all that many words that do justice to the sound of thunder. However, there are a few good choices we can share with you that might just do the trick:
Crack
We’ll start with the preferred version, and we’ll explain what makes it so suitable in most cases.
Thunder
Next, we can also use “thunder” itself as an onomatopoeic word. Let’s see how this one works comparatively to “crack.”
Rumble
A “rumble” is something you’ll mostly hear when you’re further away from the storm. It’s another great onomatopoeic word we can use in most cases.
Clap
A “clap” doesn’t just have to relate to the sound your hands can make when you hit them together. It works well when talking about thunder too.
Fumfum
Finally, let’s look at “fumfum.” While this isn’t an official word, we can use it (along with other choices) to try and recreate more specific thundering noises.
