Do hurricanes have lightning?

Normally hurricanes do not have lightning and thunder because lightning and thunder are formed by vertical winds that cause water and ice to rub together. This friction creates the electrical field that causes lightning and thunder. Hurricanes normally do not have the vertical winds needed to make the electrical fields. read more

Hurricanes do produce a good amount of lightning. Frequently it is in the eyewall of the hurricane and in the rain bands. For example you can see lightning in the eyewall of Hurricane Unagi. The mechanism for lightning in the eyewall, which has a lot of vertical shear, is still being researched. read more

Surprise: During the record-setting hurricane season of 2005 three of the most powerful storms--Rita, Katrina, and Emily--did have lightning, lots of it. And researchers would like to know why. read more