The Power of a Single Lightning Bolt

A lightning bolt is a massive discharge of electricity, typically occurring during thunderstorms. The average lightning bolt carries about 300 million volts and 30,000 amperes, generating immense power. The temperature within a lightning channel can reach up to 30,000 Kelvin (54,000 degrees Fahrenheit), which is five times hotter than the surface of the sun. This extreme heat causes the air around the lightning channel to expand explosively, creating the sound waves we hear as thunder. Lightning plays a crucial role in the Earth's electrical balance.