Thunder is the noise caused by lightning in a thunderstorm, when the release of heat energy results in audible shock waves in the air.

A thunderstorm is a storm that produces lightning and thunder, and occurs in cumulonimbus clouds. Cumulonimbus clouds are large, tall clouds with very strong updrafts that transport water high into the atmosphere. Thunderstorms can also produce flash floods, hail, strong winds, and even tornadoes. At any time on Earth, about 2,000 thunderstorms are taking place, from mild rainstorms to very damaging hailstorms with high winds. In general, the higher the storm clouds, the more violent the resulting storm will follow. Under certain conditions, isolated thunderstorms can even merge to form large convective complexes with increasing power and damage capabilities. Thunderstorms and lightning can cause not only billions of dollars of damage every year, but also result in loss of human and animal life, since about...