What is the farthest distance thunder can be heard?

Thunder can be heard up to 25 miles away, and lightning strikes have been documented to occur as far as 25 miles from thunderstorms – known as a “bolt from the blue.” So if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning, and sheltering indoors or in an enclosed car is your safest chance.

Can you hear thunder 15 miles away?

Thunder is the sound produced by lightning and generally cannot be heard more than about 15 miles from the nearest point of the lightning bolt, though the upper limit of audibility can, at times, approach 30 miles.

What is the 30 30 rule for lightning?

Don’t forget the 30-30 rule. After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors. Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder.

How far away is storm when you hear thunder?

A general rule of thumb to know how far off a bolt of lightning is when you hear thunder, if you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder, and then divide by 5, you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile, 15 seconds = 3 miles, 0 seconds = very close.

Can thunder hurt you?

Thunder can’t hurt us, of course, but lightning strikes can be deadly. Lightning deaths average about 50-55 per year in the U.S., based on a 30-year average calculated by NOAA. … Still, lightning strikes are deadly, which is why you should go indoors when you hear thunder.

Can you tell how far away a storm is located?

Just count the number of seconds that pass between a flash of lightning and the break of thunder that follows it, then divide that number by five. The resulting number will tell you how many miles away you are from where lightning just struck.

Can thunder shake a house?

Your house will shake depending the closeness of the lightning. Thunder is a sonic boom that comes from the rapid heating of the air around a lightning strike. Sonic booms cause massive shaking to nearby objects (your house). This will happen if the lightning is very close.

Can there be thunder without lightning?

No, it is not possible to have thunder without lightning. Thunder starts as a shockwave from the explosively expanding lightning channel when a large current causes rapid heating. However, it is possible that you might see lightning and not hear the thunder because it was too far away. … Thunder is caused by lightning.

Can lightning strike a house?

Lightning has the ability to strike a house or near a house and impart an electrical charge to the metal pipes used for plumbing. … Lightning is a very dangerous force that, yes, can even reach you indoors if you’re in contact with the telephone or plumbing.

Can thunder break a window?

Windows are hazardous for two reasons: wind generated during a thunderstorm can blow objects into the window, breaking it and causing glass to shatter and second, in older homes, in rare instances, lightning can come in breaks in the sides of windows.

Should I unplug stuff during a storm?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, you should unplug all of your appliances. This is because lightning striking near a local electric pole can cause a surge of electricity to burst through the power lines. … In many other parts of the world, devices that plug in to get power use up to 240 volts.

What does it mean when the thunder is really loud?

If the thunder sounds more like a rumble, the lightning was at least several miles away. The loud boom that you sometimes hear is created by the main lightning channel as it reaches the ground. … Remember, if you can hear thunder, chances are that you’re within striking distance of the storm.

Is it safe to poop during a thunderstorm?

That combined with the methane gas in poop caused the bomb-like effect that traveled through the pipes, exploding the toilet in their master bathroom. … The plumbing company said this is just as rare as getting struck by lightning yourself. Luckily, the mess will be covered by insurance.

Can lightning bounce off a mirror?

If a bolt of lightning were to strike a mirror, it would simply blast through the mirror. … Mirrors can reflect this light, if it happens to shine on the mirror, with ease. But the actual bolt itself won’t deflect from its original path towards the mirror simply because the light is being reflected.

Can lightning strike a phone?

The electric charge associated with lightning is conducted through the air and ground along paths of least electrical resistance. … A cellphone, however, has no such physical connection and the electric current from a nearby lightning strike cannot reach it. It is perfectly safe to use a cellphone during a thunderstorm.

Has anyone died from lightning in shower?

If the lightning strikes a water pipe, the electricity can move along the pipes and cause electrocution. To date, it’s unknown if anyone has ever died by showering during a thunderstorm.

Is it safe to sit on a balcony during a thunderstorm?

Stay away from windows and doors: Sitting on an open porch to watch a thunderstorm is also dangerous. It is best to be in an interior room during a thunderstorm.

Why is it safe to be in a car during a thunderstorm?

Why Your Car Is Safe

The reason your vehicle is generally a safe place to be in a lightning storm is not your rubber tires—it’s the metal frame of the vehicle, which can act as a faraday cage, directing the electric current around the outside of the vehicle.

Can I pee during a thunderstorm?

Very hard, perhaps impossible, to eliminate yourself by peeing on high-voltage things. A toilet is probably as safe a place as any in a lightning storm, if you’re not touching metal. … If you have metal plumbing instead of PVC, lightning can follow the pipes through your walls and give you a good (perhaps fatal) jolt.

Can lightning come through windows?

Glass is a good insulator, so it is very unlikely that a window pane would ever be struck directly. But a lightning strike on the roof of a house will travel down through the building through the most conductive route available. … This could also shatter a window if it was close enough.

Can I charge my phone during a thunderstorm?

Yes, you can charge your phone, but it would be unsafe to do so. Your phone or charger, or both could be severely damaged. And under no circumstances use your phone while it’s charging. It’s completely safe to use your phone during a storm as long as it’s not plugged in.

Is it safe to sleep near a window during a thunderstorm?

Don’t stand near a window to watch the lightning. An inside room is generally safe, but a home equipped with a professionally installed lightning protection system is the safest shelter available.