What is reported in column 9 and column 14 if occasional lightning is observed but thunder is not heard?

When occasional lightning is observed but thunder is not heard, the reporting conventions for surface weather observations are applied. In this scenario, column 9 records specific information about lightning, while column 14 pertains to thunder observations.

Column 9 is typically used for noting any observations of lightning, which in this case would indicate that occasional lightning is seen, but the exact phrasing required is that no thunder is heard; therefore, it simply remains unfilled since there is no thunder to report.

Column 14 requires the observation of thunder and, since it is not heard in this situation, it conveys that indication with the note for lightning being visible in the vicinity (indicated as "VC") but also specifying that thunder was not heard. This reflects the fact that, while lightning is indeed present, the absence of thunder means it should be reported distinctly.

Hence, the appropriate reporting would encapsulate this situation accurately—indicating occasional lightning reported in proximity, but not thunder itself. Other options either suggest incorrect combinations or do not distinctly note the absence of thunder, which is essential in capturing the complete scenario.