How do you know if there is a lot of lighting with a thunderstorm?

Question

How do you know if there is a lot of lighting with a thunderstorm?

Answer 1

You see the flashes.

Answer 2

fly a kite right

or watch your lights flickering

Answer 3

If you don't know the complexities of thunderstorms like a meteorologist does, there are a couple things you can do to still amaze your friends with your 'forecasting skill!'  

When the storm is heading for you, you can check out this website which has a free lightning map (see link).

You can also tune into an AM radio radio station.  There's a lot of radio interference given off by lightning in the AM band and you will hear crackling in the station every time a lightning flash happens even when the storm is 50 miles away.  The more interference you hear, the more lightning there is.

Answer 4

Well if you want to know if a storm is going to have alot of lightning as it is approaching you can go to www.lightningstorm.com and they have a free lightning tracking system.  

In a meteorological sense this will depend on how tall the thunderstorm is and how cold temperatures are aloft.  The amount of instability is also a key factor as well, whether it be surfaced based instability or elevated instability.

Answer 5

more convection = more lighting ie more severe thunderstrom if u use a radio tuned to a blank spot one can hear how frquent is the lighting

Answer 6

Honestly? Lol, I don't know about anyone else, but if theres going to be a lot of lightning during a storm, I find that the air tastes metallic in my mouth, and it's normally a great indicator. Only found one or two other people who have the same feelings....

Alan X

Answer 7

usually the thunder gives it away

Answer 8

You can go onto www.accuweather.com, go to severe weather, click on lightning and you can see all the lightning flashes in the United States within 2 hours.

Answer 9

well, typically you would see it