Why does lightning seek the ground?

Lightning, of course, is actually a quick burst of electricity. Electricity (whether it comes from lightning or any other source) heads to the ground as a result of some very basic forces. Basically, clouds filled with tons of negatively charged particles are attracted to the positively charged ground.

Can lightning travel through the ground?

An indirect lightning strike can happen two different ways. The first way is through a ground current. These occur when lightning strikes an object or the ground and the electricity travels through the ground until it encounters another object. The second way is through a side flash.

What is lightning that hits the ground called?

Most originate in a cumulonimbus cloud and terminate on the ground, called cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning. A less common type of strike, ground-to-cloud (GC) lightning, is upward-propagating lightning initiated from a tall grounded object and reaching into the clouds.

Why is there lightning but no thunder?

If you see lightning but don’t hear thunder, it is because the thunder is too far away. What we see as a lightning strike actually comes from the ground up, according to NOAA. Typically, a cloud-to-ground flash lowers a path of (invisible) negative electricity towards the ground.

Why is there lightning but no rain?

Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground. The anvil cloud is so high that rain coming from it evaporates before reaching the ground.

Why do I see lightning but no rain?

Thunderstorms are usually accompanied by rain. Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground.