Lightning strikes

Lightning strikes occur when there is a sudden electrical discharge within a cloud or between a cloud and the ground. During a storm, particles inside clouds collide, creating static electricity. This charge builds up until the electrical potential becomes strong enough to overcome the resistance of air, leading to a rapid, high-voltage transfer of energy—lightning. The actual strike balances the electrical differences, releasing light, heat, and sound (thunder). Lightning strikes can be extremely powerful, with temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun, and they play a key role in maintaining Earth's electrical balance.