A Single Lightning Bolt Heats Air Hotter Than the Sun
When lightning strikes, the air around the bolt is heated to roughly 30,000 °C—about five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. This extreme heat instantly expands the surrounding air, creating the sonic boom we call thunder. The sudden temperature change also splits nitrogen molecules in the air, allowing plants to absorb nitrogen when rain carries it to the ground.
💡 Fun detail:
Lightning can heat a narrow column of air to a temperature equal to the Sun’s surface in just microseconds, releasing energy powerful enough to temporarily light up an entire city block.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration