LONG THUNDER - The differing sounds and lengths of thunder come down to the type of lightning strike involved and how far away it hits. 🎞 Linda Sheets The sound of lightning is the combination of all the shockwaves of the air being ionized in 'step'-like segments as masses of positive and negative charges are desperate to meet. Lightning that strikes close to you or has very little impedement between it and you will often sound like those louder/quicker SNAP noises, while lightning that rumbles