How far away is a storm based on thunder and lightning?
After you see a flash of lightning, count the number of seconds until you hear the thunder. (Use the stop watch or count “One-Mississippi, Two-Mississippi, Three-Mississippi,” etc.) For every 5 seconds the storm is one mile away. Divide the number of seconds you count by 5 to get the number of miles.
What is the 30 30 rule for thunderstorms?
When You See Lightning, Count The Time Until You Hear Thunder. If That Is 30 Seconds Or Less, The Thunderstorm Is Close Enough To Be Dangerous – Seek Shelter (if you can’t see the lightning, just hearing the thunder is a good back-up rule). Wait 30 Minutes Or More After The Lightning Flash Before Leaving Shelter.
How far is lightning 10 seconds away?
2 miles away
The Correct Method to Calculate Lightning Distance
| 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 is a safe distance from lightning?
While lightning has been recorded to strike at a distance of 10 miles, the rule of thumb used for safety is a six mile distance. Thus, seeking shelter is recommended if the lightning is six miles away or less. There are a number of lightning detectors on the market using various methods to determine lightning distance.
What does it mean when thunder is really loud?
A big noise 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.
What is the difference between lightning and thunder?
The difference between thunder and lightning Thunder and lightning all occur due to the release of energy – thunder is a soundwave, and lightning is the emission of electromagnetic energy. The reason we see a flash of lightning before hearing thunder is because light travels faster than sound.
Can I walk my dog in thunder?
“Walking in high winds and rain can be stressful, especially with unpredictable conditions heading our way. We advise not walking your dog in thunderstorms, as the lightning and heavy rain is more likely to spook your pet,” a spokesperson for the Kennel Store told The Yorkshire Post.
How far is the nearest lightning strike?
The National Weather Service recommends taking cover if the time between the lightning flash and the rumble of thunder is 30 seconds or less, which indicates the lightning is about 6 miles away or closer. —Is it possible to have lightning without thunder? —Do planes get struck by lightning?
Can you see lightning from 100 miles away?
At night, it is possible to see the flashes of lightning from very far distances, up to 100 miles (160 kilometres), but the sound does not carry that far.
How far can thunder travel?
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.
Why does the ground shake when thunder?
Lighting heats the air to roughly 50,000° (which is 5 times hotter than than the surface of the sun). The heat produces a rapid expansion of the air, causing a compression of the air in front of it. This develops a shock wave that reverberates through the molecules in the air until the shock wave gets to you.
How do you calculate Thunder distance?
A thunderstorm
How do you measure the distance of lightning and Thunder?
Watch the sky for a flash of lightning.
What is the distance between lightning and Thunder?
When you see the flash of a lightning bolt, you can start counting seconds and then divide to see how far away the lightning struck. If it takes 10 seconds for the thunder to roll in, the lightning struck about 2 miles or 3 kilometers away. For more information on lightning and related topics, check out the links on the next page.
Which travels faster lightning or thunder?
Sheet lightning – cloud-to-cloud when the viewer sees brightening of the surface of a cloud not the actual lightning flash