[umpjim]

Originally Posted by Altor

My wife tells me I don't hear well anyways, but I suspect I'd have trouble hearing thunder that was caused by a lightning flash that was over 30 seconds away at Mach 1.

Just last weekend, I was at an amusement park with my daughter when a storm was approaching. I tried the "count to 30" method. By around the low 20s, I got bored and decide I wasn't going to hear it. When I did eventually hear it, it was very faint. But, it wasn't 5 minutes later that the storm was right on top of us.

I think this is why more and more associations are going to the "if you can hear it, it's too close" model. Unless you happen to be looking at it when it flashes from that distance, you won't know when to start counting. Since most officials are concentrating on other duties, we aren't able to look at the sky too. And if the thunder is loud enough that you notice it while you are performing your other duties, it's time to seek shelter.

The 30 second "flash-bang" gives you about 6 mile protection. The "hear thunder" gives you about 10. The "see it" should be used with a grain of salt at night because lightning can be seen a long way away at night.