Why do I hear continuous thunder?

Rapid heating and cooling of air around the lightning channel causes a shock wave that results in thunder. Thunder from a close lightning strike will have a very sharp crack or loud boom. Thunder from a distant strike will have a continuous rumble. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck.

What is a rumbling thunder called?

Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. In turn, this expansion of air creates a sonic shock wave, often referred to as a “thunderclap” or “peal of thunder”.

Why can I hear thunder but see no lightning?

If you see lightning but don’t hear thunder, it is because the thunder is too far away. What we see as a lightning strike actually comes from the ground up, according to NOAA. Typically, a cloud-to-ground flash lowers a path of (invisible) negative electricity towards the ground.

Are there different types of thunder?

There are four main types of thunderstorms: single-cell, multi-cell, squall line (also called multi-cell line) and supercell. Which type forms depends on the instability and relative wind conditions at different layers of the atmosphere (“wind shear”).

What is the longest thunder Rumble?

The United Nation’s World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has just announced that the longest lightning strike on record was a 2007 bolt in Oklahoma that stretched 321 km (200 miles) – almost reaching from one side of the state to the other.

What comes first thunder or lightning?

If we are watching the sky, we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. That is because light travels much faster than sound waves. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound to travel 1 mile. If the thunder follows the lightning almost instantly, you know the lightning is too close for comfort!

What does lightning sound like up close?

The air around the lightning bolt expands faster than the speed of sound, which creates a shock wave of thunder. When you’re this close to the bolt, though, it sounds more like a bullet from a gun.

Why do I hear thunder but no rain?

Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground. The anvil cloud is so high that rain coming from it evaporates before reaching the ground.

When you hear thunder What should you do?

If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.

What is a surge storm?

Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tide. • It’s the change in the water level. that is due to the presence of the. storm.

What causes thunder rumbling when no lightning visible at night?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of super-heated air as electrical spark passes through. What causes the long (ie some several seconds) of rumbling when no lightning is visible even at night during tropical downpours? Flag as… Electrical sparks still pass through the cloud above its dense mass. Only some of the charge hits the ground.

What causes thunderstorms to Thunder?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of super-heated air as electrical spark passes through. What causes the long (ie some several seconds) of rumbling when no lightning is visible even at night during tropical downpours?

Why does Lightning make a continuous noise when it strikes?

Could be cloud to cloud lightning obscured by the cloud deck, or even cloud to ground if there is a great deal of low cloud and rain between you and where the lightning strikes are flying. But that sort of phenomenon wouldn’t normally produce a continuous tone. If you hear a continuous roar in a approaching storm, best take cover.

Which part of a thunderstorm reaches you first?

The closest portion reaches you first, while the sound from the rest of the burst continues to travel to you. People located perpendicular to the burst will hear it as normal thunder. Try the experiment and call your friends.