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Dry thunderstorms occur essentially in dry conditions, and their lightning is a major cause of wildfires. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] Because of that, the United States National Weather Service , and other agencies around the world, issue forecasts for its likelihood over large areas.
Anyone close enough to the storm to hear thunder can be struck by lightning. [91] Avoid electrical appliances, including corded telephones. [88] Cordless and wireless telephones are safe to use during a thunderstorm. [91] Close and stay away from windows and doors, as glass can become a serious hazard in high wind. [88]
Thunder is the sound caused by and after lightning. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] 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 . [ 4 ]
The disturbances result in storms, and when those storms also result in lightning and thunder, they are called a thunderstorm. Lightning can also occur during dust storms, forest fires, tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, and even in the cold of winter, where the lightning is known as thundersnow.
The months of June and July have the most lightning fatalities with an average of six and 10 deaths per month in the U.S., respectively.
When thunder rumbles, lightning isn’t far behind. About 25 million times a year, lightning strikes the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Approximately 300 people per year ...
The actual phenomenon that is sometimes called heat lightning is simply cloud-to-ground lightning that occurs very far away, with thunder that dissipates before it reaches the observer. [2] At night, it is possible to see the flashes of lightning from very far distances, up to 100 miles (160 km), but the sound does not carry that far. [3]
Thundersnow can occur during a normal snowstorm that sustains strong vertical mixing which allows for favorable conditions for lightning and thunder to occur. It can also occur from the lake effect or ocean effect thunderstorm which is produced by cold air passing over relatively warm water; this effect commonly produces snow squalls over the ...