Thunderstorm Sounds: Free Rain and Thunder for Sleep
Free rain and thunder sounds in this browser, with heavy rain to mix in, a sleep timer, and a free file
- Free, no sign-up
- Files up to 10 hours
- Add heavy rain
How to start the storm
- 1
Press Play. Rain starts to fall and thunder rolls in now and then.
- 2
Add Rain for a heavier downpour, then set a sleep timer.
- 3
Open Download to save 10 minutes to 10 hours of the storm as MP3, M4A, FLAC, or WAV.
The sound of thunder, near and far
What you hear in a storm, and how these thunderstorm sleep sounds play
| Point | This storm |
|---|---|
| What thunder is | Lightning heats the air to about 50,000 °F, the US National Weather Service says. The air expands so fast that it cracks. |
| Near and far | A close strike is a sharp crack. Far away, the high notes fade and only a low rumble rolls in. |
| Rain under the thunder | Rain plays the whole time, so the quiet between claps is filled with a steady hiss. |
| Heavier rain | Add Rain on top for heavy thunderstorm sounds. You can mix up to 3 sounds, such as a storm, rain, and brown noise. |
| File sizes | One hour of the storm is about 140 MB as MP3, or about 490 MB as FLAC, which has no loss. |
| Loop | The loop repeats with no gap, so the rain never jumps or clicks. |
Sleep through the storm
Set the level by the thunder
A clap is louder than the rain around it. Turn the storm down until the loudest clap is soft, then leave it there.
Level and timer
Long, loud listening can damage hearing, as the Sleep Foundation notes. Set 30, 60, or 120 minutes. The sound fades over the last minute.
Heavy rain and thunder sounds for sleeping
If the claps wake you, lower Thunderstorm and raise Rain. Heavy rain covers more of the room and the thunder stays in the distance.
Play all night on a phone
Choose No timer, and the storm goes on until you stop it. Keep the browser tab open and the phone on charge. Playback on the lock screen is not promised.
Questions
- What sound does a thunderstorm make?
- A steady hiss of rain, with thunder on top. A close strike cracks like a whip, and a far one rumbles. Press Play to hear both.
- What is the sound of thunder?
- It is air that lightning heats in a fraction of a second. The air expands and sends out a shock wave, which you hear as a crack or a rumble.
- What sound can you hear before a lightning strike?
- Close to a strike, people report a crackle or a buzz, and hair that stands on end. The National Weather Service says that if you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you, so go indoors.
- Why do thunderstorm sounds help you sleep?
- Thunderstorm sounds for sleep work for some people: a storm heard from indoors feels calm, and the rain covers sudden sounds in the house. The Sleep Foundation says some studies found people fell asleep faster with steady noise, and reviews call the evidence mixed. These sounds are not a medical device or medical advice.
- Can I play thunderstorm sounds all night?
- Yes. With No timer, the rain sounds with thunder play until you stop them. For another device, download one file of up to 10 hours.
- Is a thunderstorm white noise?
- No. Rain is close to pink noise, with most of its energy in the middle and low notes. Thunder is not steady at all, so a storm changes level, and white noise never does.
- Where can I get free thunderstorm sounds?
- Here. Play thunder and rain sounds in your browser and take a free download, both at no cost and with no sign-up.
- Are thunder sounds bad for dogs?
- Many dogs are afraid of thunder. If yours is, keep the level low or choose Rain without the storm. Some owners play a storm very softly to get a dog used to it; ask your vet first.
Privacy
The storm plays in this tab. Nothing you play is uploaded, and no account is needed.
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