Although there s no rain at least at ground level these storms still pack plenty of lightning.
Why do we have lightning but no thunder.
The sound of thunder should serve as a warning to anyone outside that they are within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately.
A lightning bolt can travel a great distance.
Thunder is the sound caused by a nearby flash of lightning and can be heard for a distance of only about 10 miles from the lightning strike.
If you see lightning but don t hear thunder it is because the thunder is too.
Many people believe heat lightning is produced by hot and humid conditions lighting up the night sky without any rain or thunder in the immediate area.
And if lightning is present even if you can t spot it right away you re at risk for being struck.
After being heated and compressed the expanded columns of air shrink and cool down giving off the initial clap of thunder.
Thunder is a direct result of lightning.
Even though all lightning creates thunder you can see lightning without hearing thunder.
Strikes have even been known to occur 25 miles from the bolt s cloud of origin.
Occasionally lightning appears without a thunder clap because the sound wave occurred too far away to be heard.
No it is not possible to have lightning without thunder according to noaa.
But long story short you re not going to hear thunder just because there are clouds in the area.
Dry thunderstorms are often the culprits behind massive wildfires when lightning ignites a dry fuel source on the ground during fire weather season which is the hot summer months.