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Originally Posted by johnSandlin
crowder,
If I wanted a science lesson, I would have emailed a local television station in my area and talked their weather person.
Plus, you can have either or. It just happened at my house not 48 hours ago before a storm blew through. There was just lightning for a while with no thunder. Then, there was no lightning, but thunder was heard.
You do not need one to have the other. This is an officiating forum and not a science class.
I was merely stating a statement that was posted on our state's athletic association website.
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Hey all,
First point, I wouldn't get weather advise from a TV weather person EVER!! They get their information from REAL weather forecasters and observers. (Military, NWS, and/or NOAA)
Second, Lightning is caused by differently charged ions interacting with each other on a grand enough scale to cause a static discharge. That is what causes lightning and lightning follows the path of least resistance in determining where it goes. Since these particles CANNOT BE SEEN, there is no way to determine where the lightning will travel to. THAT is what make lightning so dangerous.
Generally speaking thunder will be heard between 4-6 seconds per mile of distance after the lightning occurs. Air temperature and relative humidity are major, but not the only, factors.
If you are wondering about my credibility, I spent 10 years in the USAF as a weather observer (what's going on now) and forecaster (what's going on now AND in the future). I did this in New Mexico, Alaska (Yes, There are thunderstorms there!), Illinois, Southern California, Persian Gulf, and last but not least, Mississippi.
The statement you made that I quoted in bold is wrong AND irresponsible.
LomUmp
