The common term for the phenomenon of lightning and thunder is "thunderstorm." Thunderstorms form when warm, moist air rises and encounters cooler air, leading to the development of cumulonimbus clouds. As the storm develops, electrical charges build up within the cloud, creating lightning. The rapid expansion and contraction of air as it heats and cools from the lightning create the sound wave we hear as thunder. Thunderstorms can produce heavy rainfall, strong winds, and even hail, and they play a critical role in the water cycle and replenishment of groundwater sources.