Click-BANG

[Dennis Dennison]

A small thunderstorm has just developed over hear--I was sitting inside the house and heard a CLICK sound followed by the boom of lightning.

First time I had this happen--so what did happen--My assumption is the bolt came formed overhead and stuck farther away--or perhaps the click was a leader?

Anyone?

 

[Jeff Duda]

What did you overhear?

 

[Skip Talbot]

Even though the bolt probably struck farther away leading to the delay in the thunder, the electricity can still fan out and disrupt nearby things (maybe your electronics?) which could cause the click at about the same time when the lightning actually struck.

On a couple occasions while chasing I've heard the powerlines buzz before the lightning strikes. My though process usually goes something like, "what the.... oh-"-BOOM!

 

[Jason Boggs]

What did you overhear?

He over heared lightning talking to each other and heard it stuck after hearing a click.

 

[Bill Hark]

I have heard the "click" with very close strikes and assumed that was part of the thunder sound when near the strike.

 

[Bart_Comstock]

I had a similar click once occur before hearing the clap of thunder by a nearby bolt.It was caused by electricity from the strike arcing between some overhead power lines. You can here it in the video bellow.

 

[Dennis Dennison]

Even though the bolt probably struck farther away leading to the delay in the thunder, the electricity can still fan out and disrupt nearby things (maybe your electronics?) which could cause the click at about

What is funny is after a little while I noticed that the electric GARFIELD CAT Type alarm that I have sitting along the interior East wall in the room I am in-had somehow had the Alarm mode turned on. The physical method of turning the alarm on and off on that clock is to push the nose of the cat. So whatever happened--perhaps that click was enough line surge to make the alarm set itself?

 

[Jason Foster]

I often here the power line sizzle while near a local spot I like. However I find that to be more of a sizzle pop sounds. Yes, I close strike would like pop as loud as that, but being you were in your house not likely high tension power lines.

I've had the unfortunate, but likely not uncommon in our world, fortune of experiencing a number of electrical situations in storms. More times felt than heard, and your follow-up likely points to the fact you had some high surge of lightning enter your home and arc someplace causing the "snap". I guess at this point you've searched high and low for any other signs of the possible lightning infiltration.

 

[Jason Boggs]

After a lot of reading and searching on the internet, I finally found out what that clicking noise was that Dennis heard. It's explained well at the very beginning of this video.

Clicking noise

 

[Ian Miller]

You see, it was obvious when you think about it!

 

[Michael Thompson]

Another click - bang - second strike on clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMvBVMZfUho

Have to apologise for the crap footage quality

 

[Wes Carter]

I'm going to hazard a guess: The lightning is struck close enough to affect something fairly close to you. The effects from that will be almost immediate because electrical wave propagation is 66%-99% of the speed of light depending on the medium it is conducting through (copper, earth, etc...). So then the lightning hits power lines a block away you might hear the surge come though the wiring in your home as evidenced by your Garfield clock being affected.

Then a moment later you hear the thunder clap from the main lightning bolt because it takes the sound wave quite a bit longer to reach you.

And reading some of the previous replies it looks like others have already touched upon this, I just wanted to add the difference in the speed of the electrical charge and the speed of sound for clarification.

 

[Dann Cianca]

I have never heard the "click", but I've been under power lines that are humming and grow VERY loud before a nearby discharge.

I've also heard a pulse of humming noise come across the lines with a more distant discharge.

Frankly, I love it!

 

[James Hilger]

I was chasing a few months back and I heard a single click. He was like wow that was right beside us. I'm thinking to myself yeah ok, but we noticed we didn't hear thunder. Another very experienced chaser buddy that I talked to about it said when it's that close that's all you hear. He has it on one of his videos. I'd swear I've almost been hit many times in my life, but never have I experienced that.

 

[James Wilson]

I was standing my garage last year and I hear it just before the thunder ... scared the crap out of me!