I have been in a couple "close" strikes where the thunder was trailing the lightning by, maybe, a tenth of a second or so. Although they were several years apart, in both cases I distinctly heard—or maybe felt—a "pop" at the exact moment of the flash, similar to the sound of a high-power flash unit.
Maybe it was my imagination but it was so distinct that I wonder if it was the sound of discharge from nearby objects, or … something.
Maybe it was my imagination but it was so distinct that I wonder if it was the sound of discharge from nearby objects, or … something.