EdD is correct. Lightning occurs when negative charges accumulate in the clouds. These negative charges attract natural positive charges on earth. everything has positive charge trails coming off of it during a storm. Likewise, the negative charges in the clouds form trails down. the higher the object on the ground, for example a large pine tree in the middle of the field, the faster the two charge trails meet. and when that connection is made, ZAPPPPPP!. lightning.

thank you to my 10th grade Physical Science teach for that lol

Jordan