can there be lightning without thunder

Lightning can never occur without thunder because thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air heated by the lightning discharge. However, it is possible to see lightning without hearing thunder if the lightning strike is too far away. The sound of thunder can only travel a limited distance, typically around 10 miles, before it dissipates or becomes undetectable. Atmospheric conditions such as temperature layers, topography, and other factors can also affect how sound waves travel, which might prevent thunder from being heard even if the lightning occurred relatively close. This phenomenon is often referred to as "heat lightning," though the name is misleading because the lightning does produce thunder; the sound just doesn't reach the observer.