Is it possible to have lightning without rain or thunder?

Question

Is it possible to have lightning without rain or thunder?

Answer 1

No.  It is impossible to have lightning without thunder.

Thunder is the sound lightning makes.

Answer 2

i think i have seen that before... but im not entirely sure

Answer 3

Yes - sometimes it's called "heat lightning".

Answer 4

Yes we are currently watching this now down in Hamoshire and its amazing.  

Answer 5

If its really hot outside and there is no sign of storm clouds,than thats heat lightning. Its where lightning hits behind the clouds,and goes horizonally instead if vertically like stom lighning.

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Answer 6

It sure is! Heat lightning is without rain or thunder. It's caused from being really hot and muggy.

Answer 7

yes and most the time the lighting comes up from the ground u ont need clouds ether

Answer 8

Yup i had seen it yesterday when getting gas, and yeah its call heat lighting.

Answer 9

heat lightning.

I hope I helped you!

Answer 10

yup

Answer 11

yes

Answer 12

yup... click the link below.

Answer 13

YES! Of course it is. Like the rest of the people here. It is called Heat Lightning. Look it up on Wikipedia. It is very interesting how it can the thunder can be heard in the distance but not close up.  

Answer 14

If anybody bothered to READ Wikipedia's article about "Heat Lightning" they would quickly realize by the time they saw the word misnomer that there is NO SUCH THING.

Now to answer your question it is possible to have lightning without rain it's called a dry thunderstorm and it's the cause of many wildfires.   You will still have the cumulonimbus cloud and likely virga but no rain.  As far as having lightning with out thunder no it is not possible.    Although you may not hear it, that does not mean it did not happen.

Answer 15

Yes, heat lighting...  Heat lighting doesn't come down straight its side ways.. I love watching heat lighting. It doesn't need thunder or rain becuase it's caused by heat!! I know lots about the lighting...

Answer 16

heck yes it is

Answer 17

No, anyone who says otherwise is stupid. Lighting is ionized particles expanding at a tremendously fast  rate. The result of this is thunder.  

Answer 18

like everyone says..heat lightning is definately possible to have without rain or thunder.

Answer 19

yess i think its called heat lightning

Answer 20

it's possible to see lightning without hearing the thunder.

Answer 21

I'ts kinda rare but it's called 'heat lightning'

Answer 22

If a lightning strike is a sufficient distance from the observer, sound from the strike will not be heard. These silent bolts are called heat lightning. Lightning bolts produce thunder, but the thunder sound does not travel all the way to the observer if the observer is too far away.

The movement of sound in the atmosphere depends on the atmospheric properties of the air such as temperature and density. Because temperature and density change with height, the sound of thunder is refracted through the troposphere. This refraction results in spaces of volume in which the thunder does not propagate through.

Answer 23

of course! heat lightning!

and you cant have lightning without thunder

Answer 24

No.  Heat lightning is causing thunder somewhere, it's just not close enough for you to hear it.  

Answer 25

Yes, it is possible!

Answer 26

Yes here in Chicago there was tons of lightning but no sound. It means that the lightning was to far to be heard.

Answer 27

Yes,

Heat Lightning.  

Answer 28

yes! heat lightning.

Answer 29

yes  "heat lightning".

Answer 30

Yes, its called Heat Lightning