What is Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning?

Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning is when electricity from a cloud zips down to hit the ground, like a super-fast arrow made of light and sound.

Imagine you're playing with a balloon. When you rub it on your hair, it gets all charged up and can stick to the wall. Now imagine that balloon is in a cloud, and instead of sticking to the wall, it wants to reach the ground, like your favorite toy.

Inside the cloud, tiny bits of ice and water bounce around, creating a kind of electric charge. The top of the cloud gets one type of charge, and the bottom gets another. The ground below starts to get a little charged too, almost like it’s saying, “Hey, I want that electricity!”

Finally, the air can’t hold back any longer, Boom! A flash of lightning shoots from the cloud all the way down to the ground, lighting up the sky and making your ears ring with thunder. It's like the cloud is giving the ground a big, electric hug!