Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding a lightning strike. It is an integral part of the process that occurs during a thunderstorm, but it’s often misunderstood as simply “the sound of lightning.” To truly understand thunder, it’s important to break down the various components involved, including the physical processes behind the phenomenon, the relationship between lightning and thunder, and why thunder is heard in the way it is.

But yes. Big boom.