We may see several strokes using the same path, giving the lightning bolt a flickering appearance, before the electrical discharge is complete.Д¬lick for larger animated image. The channels connect and we see the lightning stroke. Although this phase of a lightning strike is too rapid for human eyes, this slow-motion video shows it happening.ДЄs the negative charge gets close to the ground, a positive charge, called a streamer, reaches up to meet the negative charge. A 'stepped leader' of negative charge descends from the cloud seeking out a path toward the ground. These positive charges move up into the tallest objects like trees, telephone poles, and houses. Often lightning occurs between clouds or inside a cloud.Д«ut the lightning we usually care about most is the lightning that goes from clouds to ground-because that's us!ДЄs the storm moves over the ground, the strong negative charge in the cloud attracts positive charges in the ground. It looks for the closest and easiest path to release its charge. The electric field 'looks' for a doorknob. How does the lightning 'know' where to discharge-or strike?

When the strength of the charge overpowers the insulating properties of the atmosphere, Z-Z-Z-ZAP! Lightning happens. These electrical fields become incredibly strong, with the atmosphere acting as an insulator between them in the cloud. It's a little more complicated than that, but what results is a cloud with a negatively charged bottom and a positively charged top. Where the ice going down meets the water coming up, electrons are stripped off.

Meanwhile, downdrafts in the cloud push ice and hail down from the top of the cloud. Water droplets in the bottom part of the cloud are caught in the updrafts and lifted to great heights where the much colder atmosphere freezes them. Winds inside the cloud are very turbulent. Light Winds will continue.Lightning begins as static charges in a rain cloud. Sunny spells develop in the afternoon lengthening as the day goes on. 'On Wednesday there is the chance of an early shower. 'Showers and thunderstorms redeveloping in the evening then diminishing during the overnight. The Met Office forecast for the North West said: 'Showers and thunderstorms diminishing in the afternoon as sunny spells develop. The yellow weather warning is in force until Thursday, with forecasters saying the location of the storms is 'significantly uncertain.' Images taken at the scene show three fire engines and multiple police cars guarding the house.Д®xtensive damage has been caused to the roof of the property and an attached garage. The home on Barnston Road, in Wirral, was left with serious damage when a fork of lightning hit the home. In June, when parks of Merseyside were flooded during a huge thunder and lightning storm, a house burst into flames after being struck. He managed to grab an incredible picture of lightning striking the Alexandra Tower on Liverpool's waterfront from across the Mersey in Seacombe.Д«ut despite the Met Office reassurance that the lightning was not out of the ordinary, people should still take care if out and about during a storm. 'You sometimes see the lightning flash but you are too far away to hear the thunder.'ДЄn amazing image captured by Paul Madden shows just how close the lightning got to the city. Met Office fresh thunderstorm warnings with 'damage' expected Nicola Maxey, for the Met Office, said: 'It's not an unusual phenomenon.

Speaking to the Mirror Online, a spokesperson said that the 'silent lighting' was simply caused by the rule of physics.

Photographer Paul Madden took this amazing picture of lightning striking Liverpool city centre while in Seacombe, reports Liverpool Echo.Дespite people asking whether it was safe and if they should be more concerned about it than other storms, the Met Office confirmed there was nothing out of the ordinary about the lightning. Twitter users began describing the storm as 'silent lighting' with the unique experience leaving many unsettled. People on social media recorded the storm, that lasted for over an hour, but were surprised by how quiet it was. The sky in many parts of the North West was lit up by sharp flashes of lightning but was bizarrely not followed by any thunder. Those in Merseyside witnessed the strange weather phenomenon at the start of the week. Many people questioned the sighting as they heard rumbles of thunder and strikes of lightning. Parts of the UK witnessed 'silent lightning' on Monday night, and more storms are to follow. The Met Office has released an explanation for sightings of 'silent lightning' as worried onlookers took to social media after witnessing the strange phenomenon.

Thunder and lightning is a quiet storm