{"id":14109,"date":"2025-06-25T17:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/14109\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:49:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:49:09","slug":"understanding-lightning-types-why-houston-is-seeing-more-isolated-thunderstorms-in-the-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/14109\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding lightning types, why Houston is seeing more isolated thunderstorms in the summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Houston and the surrounding areas, we are used to seeing daily chances of isolated to scattered thunderstorms throughout the summer months.<\/p>\n

DOWNLOAD TODAY: <\/b>Introducing Houston\u2019s Storm Tracker 2 weather app from KPRC: Because Mother Nature doesn\u2019t send invitations<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the biggest threats we continue to see with these thunderstorms, though, is lightning. But what exactly is lightning, and how does it form?<\/p>\n

How does lightning form?<\/b><\/p>\n

As clouds begin to form, air typically acts as an insulator between positive and negative charges, which prevents lightning from forming. <\/p>\n

SEE ALSO: <\/b>What are Shelf Clouds aka \u2018Scary Looking Clouds,\u2019 and how are they formed?<\/a><\/p>\n

As the difference between positive and negative charges increases, the air can no longer act as an insulator. As that insulating capacity breaks down, there is a rapid discharge of electricity that we commonly refer to as lightning.<\/p>\n

Notice the difference between negative and positive strikesDifferent types of lightning<\/b><\/p>\n

The three most common forms of lightning include cloud-to-cloud (CC), cloud-to-ground (CG), and intracloud (IC). <\/p>\n

IC lightning is the most common form of lightning, which is caused by the difference in positive and negative charges in a single cloud. <\/p>\n

CC lightning is caused by a difference in charges between separate clouds. The most well-known form of lightning CG, occurs when there are opposite charges between a cloud and the ground.<\/p>\n

As seen by photographere Radek Dolecki (Radek Dolecki – Electric Skies)Lightning In New Smyrna Beach – Ray HargisWhat is thunder?<\/b><\/p>\n

Thunder is the sound that you hear caused by a lightning strike. When lightning strikes, it creates a path of heated air, which then expands rapidly, causing a sonic boom. <\/p>\n

That \u201cboom\u201d that you here is thunder. Depending on how close you it can sound like a very loud boom or, in the distance, a small rumble. Why does thunder always come after lightning? The answer is that light travels much faster than sound. Sometimes you may see lightning in the far distance, but here no thunder. <\/p>\n

How dangerous is lightning?<\/b><\/p>\n

Lightning strikes can reach temperatures of up to 50,000 degrees. That\u2019s up to 5 times hotter than the Sun! You also don\u2019t have to be in a thunderstorm to potentially be affected by lightning, as it can potentially strike up to 10 miles from a thunderstorm. On top of being able to strike away from a thunderstorm, lightning can strike instantly.<\/p>\n

Lightning deaths happen most often to men. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)Most lightning deaths occur under trees. (Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)How to stay safe<\/b><\/p>\n

There are many ways to stay safe when there is lightning outside. Here are some tips:<\/p>\n