The sights in the Cypriot sky over the past few days have been spectacular due to intense lightning activity.
But how is lightning formed? As Andreas Chrysanthou, spokesperson for the Meteorological Service, explained on the Alpha News program, “when a very intense cloud develops vertically, an electric field is created between the surface and the cloud, and this electric field then directs the charge toward the ground, creating these electrical discharges. The thunder we hear is caused by this violent compression of the air, “as this electric current moves between the cloud and the ground.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Temperatures are rising, but the rainy weather continues
However, as Mr. Chrysanthou noted, lightning activity is not always accompanied by rain.
“We have often seen dry thunderstorms with intense lightning activity that cause problems such as fires, because they are often not accompanied by rain.”
It is noteworthy that these intense phenomena were visible from the southern coast, Larnaca, Limassol, and even Paphos, while the lightning was developing over the occupied territories.
“It’s an indication of the height of this vertical development. It reached up to 40,000–50,000 feet. Tremendous heights.”
