Is Thunder Dangerous?

There are many people who actually tremble with fear at the sound of a clap of thunder during a thunderstorm. There is absolutely no reason to have any fear of thunder. By the time the sound of thunder reaches you, the bolt of electricity which caused it has already done its work. You hear the thunder after the lightning flash simply because sound travels much more slowly than light.

Should you be afraid of lightning? Well there is no question that a lightning can harm you or cause any damage, and in some rare cases it has even been known to kill people. But your chances of being struck by lightning are extremely slight.

Lightning of course is a form of electricity and this is what can make it dangerous. It is a giant spark of electricity that we see as a bright flash of light. It may jump across the space between two clouds or from earth to cloud.

During a storm, different electrical charges (positive or negative) are built by the clouds and earth. The difference between the charges becomes great enough causing a spark, which is lightning. And the electrical discharge, currents of air expand and contract they produce the noise we call 'thunder'.