thunderstorm

Everyday

1. A thunderstorm is a storm with thunder and lightning, usually with heavy rain and strong winds. tree →
2. A thunderstorm can also mean a sudden, fierce outburst of anger. tree →

In the lessons

In science, a thunderstorm forms when warm, wet air rises fast into tall clouds; lightning is a giant electric spark, and thunder is the sound of air heated by it. You see lightning before you hear thunder because light travels faster than sound: count the seconds between and divide by 3 to get the distance in kilometres (by 5 for miles). In safety: when thunder roars, go indoors; avoid tall trees, open fields, water and metal fences. Phrases: a severe thunderstorm, thunderstorm warning.

Examples

• A thunderstorm woke me up in the night. tree →
• We stayed inside during the thunderstorm. tree →
• Do not shelter under a tree in a thunderstorm. tree →
• The thunderstorm knocked out the power. tree →
• Heavy rain fell during the thunderstorm. tree →
• My dog hides under the bed in a thunderstorm. tree →
• Swimmers left the pool when the thunderstorm started. tree →
• I counted six seconds between lightning and thunder, so the storm was two kilometres away. tree →
• Then, like a thunderstorm, she broke out against her husband, abusing him saying: tree →

Note

One word. Countable. Also called a storm, or an electrical storm. Myth: lightning can strike the same place twice. Maths: 9 seconds between flash and thunder ≈ 9 ÷ 3 = 3 km away.