Why do you see lightning from a distance before you hear thunder?
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. We can estimate the distance of the lightning by counting how many seconds it takes until we hear the thunder. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound to travel 1 mile.
How far is the thunder from me?
Divide the number of seconds by five to get the distance in miles. Example: If you see lightning and it takes 10 seconds before you hear the thunder, then the lightning is 2 miles away from you (10 divided by 5 = 2 miles).
How far away is a lightning strike if you hear the thunderclap?
When you are out in the great outdoors and have no internet access, you can calculate the distance of a storm using the simple 3-second rule: Just count the seconds between when you see the lightning strike and when you hear the thunder clap and divide this number by three.
How accurate is counting between lightning and thunder?
If the thunder sounds more like a rumble, the lightning was at least several miles away. 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.
What signs will tell you that a lightning is close enough to harm you?
Equate thunder with lightning, even if lightning is not visible where you are. If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. Even if you can’t hear thunder, you might nonetheless be at risk.
How do you calculate the distance of a storm?
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.
How do you calculate thunder distance in km?
Sound travels one mile every five seconds and one kilometer every three seconds. Therefore, if you want to find out how far you are from lightning, divide the number of seconds by 5 if you want the answer in miles and divide it by 3 if you want the answer in kilometers.
How many seconds is thunder after lightning?
5 seconds
A general rule of thumb to know how far off a bolt of lightning is when you hear 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.
How far away can lightning be seen?
‘ All lightning comes from a thunderstorm, but you can see that lightning many miles away from a storm when the sky is clear (clear away from the storm, of course). How far? Depending on visibility conditions, you can see lightning from as far as 150 to 200 miles away on a dark summer night.
How do you tell how far away a storm is km?
Calculate the storm distance. If you want to know approximately how far away is lightning in miles, divide the number of seconds by 5, for kilometers divide the seconds by 3.
How to calculate distance between flash of lightning and sound of Thunder?
Understanding Lightning: 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.
How many miles from lightning strike can you hear thunder?
Thunder can be heard from a distance of approximately 10 miles from the point of the lightning strike. If you can hear the sound of thunder, it’s a warning that you’re within striking distance of the storm.
How long does it take for the sound of Thunder to travel a mile?
It typically takes the sound of thunder 5 seconds to travel a mile. So, by counting the number of seconds it takes between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, you can determine how far you are from the lightning strike.
What is the time between lightning and Thunder?
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.