An Explanation of Lightning:

Inside of clouds are small particles known as hydrometeors. As these particles grow and interact, the collisions cause them to become charged. After studying these particles, researchers believe that the smaller particles tend to become positively charged while the larger particles become negatively charged. Gravity pulls the larger, negatively charged particles downward, and updrafts tend to send the smaller, positively charged particles upward. The result is that the higher portion of the cloud has a net positive charge while the lower portion of the cloud has a net negative charge. The separation of particles causes a large electrical potential not only within the cloud itself, but also between the cloud and the earth. This electrical potential can become millions of volts in magnitude. Eventually, the electrical resistance in the air breaks down and lightning, the electrical discharge between the regions of the cloud or between the cloud and the ground, is formed. A single lightning flash is formed by a series of lightning strokes. Usually there are about four strokes per flash. An average duration of time for a stroke of lightning is about 30 microseconds. The average peak power of a stroke of lightning is about 10^12 watts. The electrical discharge, lightning, results in heating up the atmosphere immediately around the lightning strike. The lightning can actually heat the area in the general vicinity to 20,000 degrees C! (This is 3 times the temperature of the surface of the sun). The air that has been heated by the lightning is then compressed. This produces a shock wave, which quickly decays to an acoustic wave as it flows away from where the lightning struck. The flash and the resulting acoustic wave (thunder) that was described in the last paragraph both occur at the same time, so you may be asking why do I hear the thunder so long after I see the lightning? The reason is because light travels at 186,000 miles per second, and sound only travels at one one-millionth of this speed (approximately 331 meters per second). Thus, although the lightning and the thunder occur at the same place and time, the thunder will be heard well after the lightning is seen. The further from the lightning you are, the longer the lag time will be. In fact, one way to estimate the distance to a lightning strike is by counting how long it takes to hear the thunder after you see the lightning strike. If you take this result and divide it by 5, you will have an approximation to the distance to the strike (in miles).

Lightning Safety:
1) Stay indoors, and don't venture outside, unless absolutely necessary. 2) Stay away from open doors and windows, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks, and plug-in electrical appliances. 3) Don't use plug-in electrical equipment like hair driers, electric toothbrushes, or electric razors during the storm. 4) Don't use the telephone during the storm. Lightning may strike telephone lines outside. 5) Don't work on fences, telephone or power lines, pipelines, or structural steel fabrication. 6) Don't use metal objects like fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing cleated shoes are particularly good lightning rods. 7) Don't handle flammable materials in open containers. 8) Avoid hilltops, open spaces, wire fences, metal clotheslines, exposed sheds, and any electrically conductive elevated objects.