How hot is a lightning bolt, in degrees Celsius?
Science hard Data from 2024
Guess before you scroll — the answer is below
The answer
30,000 degrees Celsius
Roughly 30K.
A lightning channel reaches about 30,000°C — roughly five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. The thunder you hear is the air around it exploding outwards from being heated that fast.
Where this number comes from
| Source | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
|---|---|
| Figure refers to | 2024 |
| Last checked | |
| Unit | degrees Celsius |
Numbers move. If this one has drifted from its source, let us know.
Think you can do better?
Five fresh questions every day. No account needed.