The DU Lounge
Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsIf you see lightning and want to know how far away the storm is...
Count the number of seconds between the time you see the lightning and the time you hear the thunder.
Then, just plug that number into the following formula to determine the distance in miles that the storm is away from you.
This quick trick will give you a close approximation.

California_Republic
(1,826 posts)True Blue American
(18,579 posts)Nice to know.
PJMcK
(24,899 posts)Into which variable do I plug the numbers of seconds?
Geez, LuckyCharms! At least give us enough information to try to solve the equation!
pansypoo53219
(22,957 posts)pazzyanne
(6,749 posts)planetc
(8,874 posts)lastlib
(27,792 posts)SO satisfying to beat them when they try to stump ya!
mitch96
(15,719 posts)Keep it simple....
m
brush
(61,033 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)
NightWatcher
(39,376 posts)csziggy
(34,189 posts)True Dough
(26,091 posts)When the lightning zaps my tongue, I know it's really close.
Totally Tunsie
(11,674 posts)Ask me...I know. One second I was in the tub, the next I was standing beside it through no effort on my part. Never try to beat the storm!
True Dough
(26,091 posts)If so, I'd like to hear a few more details.
Totally Tunsie
(11,674 posts)I was trying to rush a bath before an oncoming storm, thinking I had enough time. Lightening struck many miles away, but the force and electricity traveled through the ground, ultimately reaching our area. The electricity then traveled through our pipes, and the combination of this and sitting in the water bounced me out of the tub with a sizzle. I wasn't burned in any way, but did feel quite a tingle for several moments as I was standing beside the tub, looking at where I had been sitting! It was memorable enough that I never tried it again.
