2006-11-30 15:42:39 · 16 answers · asked by Michelle 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
That is a fantastic question.
It is a matter of humidity. The cold weather
that allows snow means the air is not humid
enough to allow an electric current to travel
(along the water vapor in the air) over the differently
charged clouds and sky. People who say temp are
sort of right, but it is the low temp that leads to the low
humidity that causes the "problem".
Thanks for asking such a good question.
2006-11-30 15:48:49 · answer #1 · answered by PoohP 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, I live in Mid-Missouri and we are having a major winter storm right now (ice, sleet and should have 12 inches of snow by morning) and earlier this evening, it was close to blizzard conditions and it was thundering a lot. We couldn't see the lightning, but it was pretty cool. It's called thunder-snow. The air temp aloft is warmer then on the ground and if the cloud tops are high enough with those conditions, you get thunder in the snow.
2006-11-30 15:47:37 · answer #2 · answered by b_friskey 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is lightning in the winter, but it's pretty rare. I live in South Dakota, and there was lightning the other night while there was a light snow. The lightning shows up on radar on the evening news. I think it's called Snow Thunder or something like that.
2006-11-30 15:51:44 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You Can Have Thunder and Lightning During winter storms
All you need is to have a supercell that produces Snow and lightning and you have THUNDER SNOW
2006-12-01 15:23:16 · answer #4 · answered by NWS Storm Spotter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually there is sometimes thunder during snowstorms. It is usually a pretty intense snowstorm that will produce thunder. I have heard the thunder myself and I know to have thunder you have to have lightning, but I guess due to the cloud cover you just never see the lightning.
2006-11-30 15:48:42 · answer #5 · answered by 86Mets 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Though it doesn't happen often, I have both seen and heard thunder and lightning while we have been having a snow storm. I live in Michigan.
2006-11-30 15:45:16 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most thunder and lightning storms are quite pretty to look at. I like to watch them if I can.
2016-05-23 06:55:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there IS thunder and lightning even in Winter storms
2006-11-30 15:44:36 · answer #8 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why Is There Lightning
2016-09-30 01:02:57 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thunderstorms need three things:
Moisture—to form clouds and rain.
Unstable Air—relatively warm air that can rise rapidly.
Lift—fronts, sea breezes and mountains are capable of lifting air to help form thunderstorms.
Hope this helps!
2006-11-30 15:51:50 · answer #10 · answered by Mike 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋