A thunderstorm requires the presence of lightning.
A dry thunderstorm is a thunderstorm that produces thunder and lightning , but most or all of its precipitation evaporates before reaching the ground , and dry lightning is the term which is used to refer to lightning strikes occurring in this situation . A thunderstorm , also known as an electrical storm , lightning storm , or thundershower , is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth 's atmosphere , known as thunder .