The speed of sound is roughly 343 meters per second (or 1,125 feet per second) at sea level and room temperature. We can use this information to estimate the distance to a storm based on the elapsed time between a lightning flash and the following thunderclap.
If 6 seconds elapse between the lightning and the thunderclap, we can estimate that the storm is approximately 2,058 meters (or 6,752 feet) away.
The calculation for this is as follows:
Distance = Speed of Sound x Time
Distance = 343 meters/second x 6 seconds
Distance = 2,058 meters
The time between a lightning flash and the following thunderclap may be used to estimate, in kilometers, how far away a storm is. How far away is a storm is 6 seconds elapse between the lightning and the thunderclap?
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