Seems like a silly question but i wonder why it doesn't thunder and ligthening when it snows..only when it rains? Hmmmm..
2006-12-30 07:29:50 · 12 answers · asked by IrishPrincess 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
For thunder, you need lightning... for lightning, you need heat.
It is possible for lightning to strike during snowstorms, but it's less common. When a cold front meets a warm front, a blizzard very well may include lightning. FYI... snowstorm lightning, while less common, is also more dangerous than its warm-weather counterpart, because wintertime strikes carry more current.
2006-12-30 07:35:54 · answer #1 · answered by sueflower 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although I have never witnessed it personally, I suppose it could happen...with that being said I still don't believe it will, because lightning is the result of electron buildup in the atmosphere, which mostly happens during warmer weather (it's a big spark generated by convestion currents within the clouds during the formation of a thunderhead). Of course, with thunder being the "sonic boom" of lightning, it won't happen without lightning.
"During fair weather, a potential difference of 200,000 to 500,000 Volts exists between the Earth's surface and the ionosphere, with a fair weather current of about 2x10-12 amperes/meter2." The keyword here being "fair".
2006-12-30 07:43:06 · answer #2 · answered by sharkzfin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sorry to let you know but it does happen. I have seen both thunder snow and thunder and lightening during snow storms usually in the early or late winter times
2006-12-30 07:39:30 · answer #3 · answered by TchrzPt 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The last snow storm we had here was crazy. It was thundering and lightening all night. We got 16 inches of snow.
2006-12-30 07:37:38 · answer #4 · answered by talarlo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does. Watch the weather channel enough and you'll see reports of thunder snow. Its just not as common as regular thunder storms.
2006-12-30 07:39:03 · answer #5 · answered by m. b 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It actually does. I've seen several snowstorms that include thunder and lightening.
2006-12-30 08:42:35 · answer #6 · answered by maryanndertal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thundersnow is an extremely uncommon meteorological phenomenon that includes the common habit of a thunderstorm, yet with snow falling with the aid of fact the ordinary precipitation instead of rain. It usually falls in areas of robust upward action in the chilly sector of extratropical cyclones between autumn and spring whilst floor temperatures are maximum in all possibility to be close to or under freezing.
2016-10-06 05:31:15 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen seen lightning during a snow storm several times. Oregon coast and Minnesota
2006-12-30 11:35:37 · answer #8 · answered by Ford Prefect 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wrongo - its rare but there can be thunder and lightening during snowstorms.
2006-12-30 07:32:14 · answer #9 · answered by The Old Professor 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because there isn't enough heat in the air to cause an electrical spark
2006-12-30 07:32:58 · answer #10 · answered by biznitchil 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋