Enter the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder to calculate the distance to the storm. The calculator uses the speed of sound in air to estimate the distance.
Storm Distance Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the distance to a storm.
D = (T * S) / 1609.344
Variables:
- D is the distance to the storm (miles)
- T is the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder (seconds)
- S is the speed of sound in air at sea level (343 meters per second)
To calculate the distance to a storm, multiply the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder by the speed of sound, then convert from meters to miles.
What is Storm Distance?
Storm distance is the measure of how far away a storm is from the observer. It is typically calculated by timing the interval between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder that follows, using the known speed of sound in air. This method provides a quick and simple way to estimate the distance to a storm, which can be crucial for safety during severe weather conditions.
How to Calculate Storm Distance?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Storm Distance.
- First, observe the lightning and start timing.
- Stop timing when you hear the thunder.
- Record the time (T) in seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder.
- Use the formula D = (T * S) / 1609.344, where S is the speed of sound (343 m/s).
- Calculate the distance to the storm (D) in miles.
- After inserting the time and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem :
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder (T) = 5 seconds
Using the formula, the distance to the storm (D) is calculated as follows:
D = (5 * 343) / 1609.344 ≈ 1.06 miles
