Lightning's Temperature Surpasses Sun's Surface, Causes Thunder
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that a lightning channel can reach temperatures of about 30,000 degrees Celsius, roughly five times hotter than the Sun's surface. This rapid heating causes the air to expand violently, creating thunder. The temperature is derived from the light emitted by the lightning channel, similar to how astronomers measure the Sun's surface temperature. Despite its high temperature, lightning is not more energetic than the Sun, as it occurs in a small, brief channel compared to the Sun's vast, continuous energy output. 
