How does lightning happen, and which type is more dangerous?

Lightning is a dangerous part of any thunderstorm, but did you know there are both positive and negative lightning strikes?

Lightning develops due to the buildup of charges in the top and bottom of a cloud, as well as charges on the ground.

Strong updrafts can lead to hail growth within a storm. Hail, soft hail (graupel) and ice within the cloud collide with water droplets, which causes electrons to collect on the descending particles.

This leads to electrons building up in the bottom of the cloud while the top of the cloud has positive charges. The electric field within the cloud becomes stronger as opposite charges attract.

Meanwhile, there are positive charges at the ground that will rise up in tall objects such as trees and utility poles.

An invisible, negative charge called a "stepped leader" will develop and shoot to the ground, while a "streamer" will rise up from the positive charges at the ground – and the result is lightning.

This form of lightning is negative lightning. Negative lightning accounts for the majority of strikes in a storm and are dangerous.

Positive lightning strikes account for less than 5% of lightning strikes, but they are the deadliest. They originate in the top of the cloud where there are positive charges.

Lightning strikes outside of the storm due to a cluster of negative charges at the ground. This type of lightning can strike 10 miles away from a storm and in rare cases, 50 miles.

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