9 Striking Facts About Lightning

36

8A Lightning Bolt Can Be Up to 30,000 Kelvin

The temperature of a lightning bolt is astonishingly high. At its core, a lightning bolt can reach temperatures of up to 30,000 Kelvin (53,540 degrees Fahrenheit). This is five times hotter than the surface of the Sun!

The extreme heat causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly, creating the shockwave that we hear as thunder. The intense heat also ionizes the air, allowing the lightning bolt to travel through it.