What causes heat thunder/lighting?

Question

It's thundering outside. I'm not sure if it is lighting. I didn't look out the window. And there's not rain coming down. So I'm guessing it's heat thunder? I've heard of it.

Is there even such thing?

Anyway, if there is, what causes it.

o_O Just curious. Thanks, 10 POINTS best answer!

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Answer 1

There is no such thing as heat lightning.  Lightning is caused by the interaction of hail within a storm cell.  Its the static discharge building up within the cloud then releasing.  If you heard thunder then there was lightning, you just didn't see it.  Lightning doesn't always strike the earth.  Lightning also strikes into other clouds, or just into the air.  You don't have to have rain or any type of precipitation for that matter for there to be lightning.  There just has to be hail within the cumulonimbus cloud, though you may never see the hail you know its there when you see lightning.

Answer 2

CHUCK NORRIS!

Answer 3

There is really no such thing as "Heat Lightning"

What people identify as heat lightning is just lightning that is far away.