Silent lightning has been one of the erratic elements of the weather which has hit Yorkshire this weekend.
On Saturday evening, parts of the region were hit by strange, thunder-less lightning. The Met Office has also forecast high temperatures and the possibility of the silent lightning strikes returning today.
Despite the sun many of us have experienced in recent days, we’ve been warned to prepare for flooding, hail and strong winds as well as the silent lightning.
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A spokesperson said: “ Some communities might become cut off if roads flood. Power cuts might occur and other services to some homes and businesses could be lost. Fast flowing or deep floodwater is possible, causing a danger to life.”
Some people might not be familiar with silent lightning.
What is silent lightning?
As you likely know, a lightning strike is an electric charge from the atmosphere that normally is followed by a violent crack or slow, low grumble.
Silent lightning, otherwise known as heat lightning, is when lightning occurs but is not followed by the expected roll of thunder. When lightning is silent it is likely that it comes from a distant thunderstorm that is too far away for people to hear any noise.
A Met Office spokesperson said: “It’s not an unusual phenomenon. Light travels further than sound. You sometimes see the lightning flash but you are too far away to hear the thunder.”
Silent lightning is not out of the ordinary, but still poses the same safety concerns as any storm.
People should take care during a storm, and should remain safely inside wherever possible.
How close to lightning do you have to be to hear thunder?
It’s always been said that the number of seconds between a flash of lightning and the rumble of thunder can tell you how close you are to the storm. For every five seconds between the light and the noise, which travels slower, you are approximately one mile away.
It is generally said that if the thunder occurs less than 30 seconds after you see the flash, it is close enough to pose a threat. The sound of thunder can normally only be heard for about 10 miles from a flash, whereas the flash can be seen from further.
You can find the latest weather forecast for Yorkshire here.
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