why is there a down pour right after thunder?

Answer 1

When a storm front is coming through your area, the worst bands of thunder and lightning come right at the begning of the storm--because it is a clash of the cold and warm air. So when you hear the Thunder the front is bursting into your area, then once the air is destabalized then the heavy rain comes....

Answer 2

Awesome question!

I've been a meteorologist for 6 years now, and I've always had a real wonder about the question you ask.

I mean, the heaviest rains are usually associated with regions that are electrically active. Stronger rising motion causes larger water droplets (and thus heavier rain) and also helps ions separate more quickly (and thus more lightning).

But I remember many times where a storm is basically overhead... but it's only just starting to drop occasionally... then thunder rolls through and it starts immediately to pour. It's not the lightning flash that seems to do it... but the thunder.

I can and have theorized some reasons... perhaps the vibration helps very small water droplets to collect quickly onto the larger drops, and because all the drops have gotten heavier they all fall more quickly, becoming heavy rain
?
I don't know of any real study that has gone into this phenomena, but I share an interest in the answer to your question!

Answer 3

There a reason for it. I believe the thunder usually causes the water droplets in the clouds to race faster and then fall from the cloud faster with less evaporation. I can't remeber it though. I heard the reason on the WEather Channel they sa the thunder and lightning causes the water to fall faster. That's why during the beginning or a weakeing thundersotrms, the water droplets are a decent size, but not as big as they were.

Answer 4

Thunder and lightning come from a particular cloud called cumulonimbus.It grows to a great height sometimes upto 12 to 14 kms. When this cloud matures it bursts.At that time all ice crystals and water particles are pushed down with great force.This is called downdraft.When the cloud is growing (before maturing) updrafts (Upward motion of air) exist and they dont allow the ice particles and water to drop.Slowly downdraft which is downward motion of air also starts and it becomes intense after the maturity of the cloud.ie after the cloud bursts.Suddenly all the water particles are pushed down with great force.So you get the downpour like this.Wind will be pushed in all directions with this downpour.