What is thunderstorm simple words?
thunderstorm, a violent short-lived weather disturbance that is almost always associated with lightning, thunder, dense clouds, heavy rain or hail, and strong gusty winds. There the moisture contained in the updraft condenses to form towering cumulonimbus clouds and, eventually, precipitation.
How do you explain thunderstorms to kids?
Thunderstorms happen when hot, moist air rises quickly to cooler parts of the atmosphere. There, the air cools, and clouds and rain form. Lightning, which is a form of electricity, develops inside the clouds. As the lightning heats the air, it causes it to expand.
What are thundery showers?
Definition of thundershower : a shower accompanied by lightning and thunder.
What is lightning kid definition?
Lightning is a powerful burst of electricity that happens very quickly during a thunderstorm. Lightning can occur inside clouds, between clouds and from clouds to the ground. Around one quarter of lightning is from cloud to ground. Lightning is caused by an electrical charge in the atmosphere that is unbalanced.
Does thunderstorm mean rain?
A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning. A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following: hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado.
Why does it thunder during rain?
The precipitation process within a cloud is a reason lightning occurs. As ice and water develop in clouds there is an electrical buildup. Lightning occurs to balance the electrical build in the clouds or between the clouds and the ground. Thunder is created by a rapid expansion of air.
How long does a thundershower last?
Thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will most often pass by your location in less than one hour. The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy, substantial building that can protect you from lightning, hail, damaging wind, heavy rain, and tornadoes.
Are thundery showers heavy?
Cumulonimbus clouds (thunderstorm clouds) produce the heaviest rainfalls. Showers from stratocumulus clouds (not as puffy) tend to not be so heavy.
What causes thunder and lightning during rainfall?
Do thunderstorms always have rain?
Thunderstorms occur in a type of cloud known as a cumulonimbus. They are usually accompanied by strong winds and often produce heavy rain and sometimes snow, sleet, or hail, but some thunderstorms produce little precipitation or no precipitation at all.
