Is it true that if you count the seconds between lightning and thunder?

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. Keep in mind that you should be in a safe place while counting.

Why do you count the seconds between thunder and lightning?

The light and sound actually happen at the same time, but the light of the lightning flash travels faster than the grumbling sound of the thunder. The time between the flash of light and thunder will tell you how far you are from where the lightning struck.

How many seconds does it take to hear thunder after lightning?

You can practice this with a clock to get the timing right if you want. Every 5 seconds between when you see lightning and when you hear the thunder is one mile. If you count 10 seconds between the lightning and thunder, the lightning struck 2 miles away.

What is the second rule of lightning?

It can help you determine how far away lightning is from your location. When you see lighting in the distance, start counting. The thunder travels away from the lightning bolt and in about 5 seconds it will have traveled 1 mile. So for every 5 seconds you count before you hear thunder, that equals 1 mile.

What is the 30 second rule for lightning?

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.

VERIFY: Can you tell how far away lightning is by counting?

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.

Is it bad to carry an umbrella in a thunderstorm?

Thunderstorms are electrically charged. Umbrellas mostly contain metal parts which are good conductors of electricity. The electric charge form thunderstorm can move into the umbrella and cause harm to the person carrying it. Therefore, it is nor safe carrying an umbrella during a thunderstorm.

Does lightning make noise?

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. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning produces rapid expansion of the air in the path of a lightning bolt.

How loud is a thunder?

The loudness of thunder can be expressed in decibels (dB). A clap of thunder typically registers at about 120 dB in close proximity to the ground stroke. This is 10 times louder than a garbage truck or pneumatic jackhammer drill.

Can you swim when there is thunder?

Swimming in a thunderstorm with lightning present is not safe, whether you're in the ocean or a pool. A body of water is the equivalent of putting a hairdryer in a bath, and because water conducts electricity, lightning is more likely to strike water than land.

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). When lightning strikes a tree, the heat vaporizes any water in its path possibly causing the tree to explode or a strip of bark to be blown off.

How fast is lightning in mph?

The speed of lightning

While the flashes we see as a result of a lightning strike travel at the speed of light (670,000,000 mph) an actual lightning strike travels at a comparatively gentle 270,000 mph.

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.

Why do people count after they see lightning?

The 30/30 rule

Jackson Browne from the Bureau of Meteorology said counting the seconds between when you see a strike of lightning and hear the accompanying thunder could help you figure out how far away the lightning is.

How can you tell where lightning is struck?

LightningMaps.org is a real-time website that shows you on a map where lightning has recently struck. This can either give you piece of mind or be terrifying. You can also track thunder when you are zoomed in on the map. Each dot represents where lightning struck.

What sound does thunder make in words?

Senior Member. One common word for the sound is a thunderclap.

Can lightning make you blind?

In ophthalmology, injuries due to lightning strikes have been documented as various entities – ranging from keratitis, cataracts, uveitis in the anterior segments to retinal detachments, papillitis, and macular hole formation in the posterior segment.

How loud is the sun?

One heliophysicist crunched the numbers and estimates the noise would be around 110 decibels, or about the same volume as speakers at a rock concert.

What is snow thunder?

Thundersnow – a thunderstorm that produces snow instead of rain – is sometimes reported during winter storms across the nation and in other countries.

Why does thunder shake the 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).

How Far Can lightning travel?

Lightning can travel 10 to 12 miles from a thunderstorm. This is often farther than the sound of thunder travels. That means that if you can hear thunder you are close enough to a storm to be in danger of being struck by lightning.

Can you have lightning without thunder?

Thunderstorms always have lightning (thunder is caused by lightning, and you can't have a thunderstorm without thunder!), but you can have lightning without a thunderstorm. Lightning can also be seen in volcanic eruptions surface nuclear detonations, and in heavy snowstorms (“thunder snow”).

What to do if your hair stands up in a storm?

If your hair stands on end, lightning is about to strike you. Drop to your knees and bend forward but don't lie flat on the ground. Wet ground is a good conductor of electricity. 5.

Why should bathing be avoided during thunderstorms?

Is it safe to take a shower or bath during a lightning storm? No. Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a lightning storm.

Is it safe to sit in car during storm?

If you're caught in a storm while driving, you are safest in an enclosed, metal vehicle. (This means hard-topped cars with all of the windows shut.) If your car is struck by lightning, the current will flow through the metal body of the vehicle to the ground.