[--MAIN HOME--] [--ALL HABYHINTS--] [--FACEBOOK PAGE--] LOCAL FREAKISH WX SERIES: LIGHTNING STORM METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY A thunderstorm has lightning but each storm can produce a varying amount of lightning depending on several storm characteristics. One character is CAPE. The greater the instability then generally the more numerous the lightning strikes will be. Another character is the temperature difference between the bottom and top portions of a thunderstorm. A greater temperature difference will tend to produce more lightning. Strong storm speed and directional wind shear will help increase storm intensity and this helps increase lightning generation. A freak lightning storm can have cloud to ground lightning vivid enough to occur every few seconds. Cloud to cloud lightning can be so numerous that the cloud continuously stays lit and partially lit. In some cases the sky can appear to glow green as the continuous lightning lights up precipitation in the storm. These storms produce ferociously intense lightning strikes, the power typically goes out temporarily and damage is done from the numerous strikes. Lightning is a major cause of deaths in thunderstorms. This is another reason for why lightning storms are so dangerous. The worst place to be during lightning is outside.