The loud natural occurrence caused by discharges of electricity in the atmosphere is known as thunder. Thunder typically follows lightning and occurs due to the rapid expansion and contraction of air heated by a lightning strike. This process creates sound waves that result in the characteristic booming or rumbling noise of thunder. The distance between the observer and the lightning strike influences how thunder is heard; the longer the delay between seeing the flash and hearing the sound, the farther away the storm is. Thunderstorms are common in various climates, and their associated thunder can vary in intensity based on factors like geography and weather conditions.