Åskregn

Åskregn, or a thunderstorm, is a weather phenomenon in which thunder and lightning are produced by strong convective activity in the atmosphere. It is typically accompanied by heavy rain and can include gusty winds, hail, and, in more severe cases, tornadoes. The term is used in Nordic languages to describe such storm events.

Forming conditions: a thunderstorm develops when warm, moist air rises rapidly in an unstable atmosphere, leading to the growth of cumulonimbus clouds. Within the cloud, collisions of ice and water particles create electrical charges, resulting in lightning. The rapid air heating by lightning causes the sound known as thunder.

Typical features: bursts of intense rain, bright lightning, and thunder are hallmark signs. Storms may travel as a single cell, a line of storms, or clusters. Severe variants can bring large hail, strong wind gusts, downbursts, and, rarely, tornadoes. In Nordic climates, åskregn often occurs in spring and summer when warm air interacts with maritime air masses.

Hazards and safety: lightning is the primary danger. People should seek sturdy shelter indoors away from windows, avoid tall objects, water, and metal conductors, and refrain from using corded devices. After the storm passes, wait for the all-clear. Weather services issue warnings based on radar and lightning networks.