Lightning and thunder happen at the same time, but light travels much faster than sound.
Lightning and thunder happen at the same time, but light travels much faster than sound. You can estimate how far a storm is by counting the seconds between the flash and the boom. Every three seconds is about one kilometre. If you count only three seconds, the storm is very close, so stay indoors. Never stand under a tree or near water during thunderstorms.
Reported by Aarav, Class 6, Starfish School, Mangaluru (young reporter).