Lightning can heat the air it passes through to about 50,000 °F (roughly 27,760 °C), which is about five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. That extreme heat creates a rapidly expanding air column and the thunder you hear as the shock wave of that sudden expansion. Key points

• Temperature: around 50,000 °F (27,760 °C) in the air just around the bolt [source: widely cited meteorology references].
• Why it matters: the intense heating causes rapid air expansion, producing thunder, and can cause severe damage or injury on contact.
• Range and context: temperatures are often described as the air reaching tens of thousands of degrees, with common figures cited around 50,000 °F; the exact peak can vary with bolt current and ambient conditions.
• Safety: always seek shelter indoors during storms; avoid open fields, tall objects, and contact with metal or plumbing.

If you’d like, I can provide concise comparisons (e.g., bolt temperature vs. Sun surface temperature) or explain how lightning forms and why it heats air so intensely.