Why Do We Count Between Thunder And Lightning?

The reason we count between thunder and lightning, i.e. One onethousand , two two thousand, is that if we reach ten ten thousand, it means it is a mile away, the lightning strike that is.  The shorter time counting, the closer the lightning is to us

That answer above me isn't correct, You count and then divide your answer by 5. That gives you the distance that the lightening bolt was from you in miles. For example if there was 10 seconds between the lightning and thunder, the lightening was 2 miles from you.

Ok...well in other words, when you see lightning, start counting until you hear the thunder, to calculate, 5 seconds from when you hear the thunder, the lightning strike is about 1 mile away from you...now that's close!!!