In Texas, thunder is very loud compared to other parts of the country. This phenomenon is caused by thunderstorms that are elevated above the ground. Thunder is a warning signal for people to find shelter. Lightning passing through the air causes the sound of thunder. In fact, the sound is more frequent during elevated thunderstorms, so the sound of thunder is a warning for people to take shelter.
Lightning
Thunder is one of nature’s most powerful sounds, and it can be heard miles away. It is the result of a main lightning channel hitting the ground, creating a loud boom. This sound is terrifying, and it can cause injury and damage. But the sound is also an indicator that the storm is near. Lightning strikes in Texas can spawn tornadoes and cause large hail storms. To understand why thunder sounds so loud, we need to understand how it forms.
Lightning creates thunder by rapidly heating air around it. The air surrounding a lightning bolt can reach more than 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit – five times the temperature of the sun. The air then quickly cools, releasing the compressed air, which then creates the loud sound.
Large looming clouds
Thunder is a sound that can be incredibly loud. When it is coming from a thunderstorm, it’s most common to see it in the form of large, looming clouds. This is known as an elevated thunderstorm. These thunderstorms form when warm air rises above a cold air mass. The temperature inversion causes these thunderstorms to amplify the sound of thunder. This type of thunderstorm is most common during the winter.
The sound of thunder is caused by the massive flow of electrical energy inside a thunderstorm cloud. The electricity from lightning flashes heats up the air around it. The air around it expands very rapidly, creating a shock wave. Because the air is so dense, the massive amount of electrical energy makes the sound so loud.
Loud claps of thunder
Thunder is a loud noise created by the explosion of air. When lightning strikes, it sends an electrical shock from the cloud to the Earth’s surface and back, which in turn causes the air to expand and create a loud shock. When thunder hits the ground, the sound is usually a single loud clap or bang, followed by a hiss.
While you might not think thunder is a big deal, you may be surprised to know that the sound of thunder can be heard in Texas and in the surrounding areas. In some parts of the country, thunder is heard during thunderstorms, particularly when the storm is “elevated.” This is due to a phenomenon called an inversion, where temperatures increase with height. This causes the sound of thunder to bounce off the inversion and any objects on the ground.
High temperatures
Thunderstorms are usually more common in North Texas in April and May, when lingering cold fronts and moist air combine to form thunderstorms. This moisture collides with cooler air, releasing heat, giving the thunder a lot of energy. While many of these storms are brief and cause no damage, some can bring severe weather. In fact, since 1950, there have been more tornadoes recorded in North Texas during this time of year.
Thunderstorms are most likely to form at night, around midnight, when most people are asleep. The cooler temperatures at night make it easier for thunderstorms to form. This means that thunder will jolt people out of bed when it hits, so be aware of this.
Long duration
Throughout the year, Texas experiences thunderstorms with varying durations and intensity. The state averages 50 days of thunderstorm activity each year. Thunderstorms in Texas are often severe and produce damaging winds and large hail. Some of these storms can even produce tornadoes. A severe thunderstorm in Texas can last anywhere from several minutes to several hours.
Long duration thunder in Texas has been documented several times, but one lightning bolt in April 2020 was the longest lightning strike on record, stretching almost four hundred seventy seven miles from Texas to the Mississippi River. The bolt beat the previous record of 440.6 miles, which was set in Brazil. The lightning bolt lasted for 17.1 seconds. Normally, a lightning bolt would last no more than 10 seconds.
