Lightning always comes before thunder. Why? Simply, because light travels faster than sound. Light travels at around 300,000 km a second (200,000 miles). In the same time, sound only travels 330 m (1000 feet). It is therefore hardly surprising that a storm is seen before it is hear. If the sound comes immediately after the flash it is because the storm is near. Lighting is an electrical charge that explodes in the sky in a big flash. Did you know that you can make electrical flashes? All you have to do is comb your hair with a plastic comb!
Flashes of lightning come from clouds which are being blown by a strong wind. The electricity builds up until a flash suddenly shoots from one side of the cloud towards the Earth. Lightning always moves through the sky in a zig-zag. When it thunders it is like a big drum being played over our heads. In fact, it is large quantities of air which crash together. The lightning causes these crashes. Lightning hearts the air, which shrinks. The colder air rushes into the space and there is a resounding crash.
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