like seriously! I don't get it! Some smart physicist guy help plz! ;)
2007-01-19 17:22:30 · 9 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Since sleet/snow are essentially frozen water they are extremely poor conductors. Ice has a low ion count and the ions are extremely slow moving, nearly motionless in fact. Electricity works best in a fast moving environment with lots of room to work around. Lightning during a snow storm is extremely rare, if possible at all. It's possible that lightning observed in such conditions might actually be occuring further away where it might be raining or be completely dry.
2007-01-19 17:41:10 · answer #1 · answered by Jason 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's basically the same processes, static electricity and charges, but because there is less moisture in a snow storm than a rainstorm, there are fewer particles of ice to collide and build the charge. (The old wives rule of thumb is 10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of rain.) It can lightning during snow/sleet storms...I've seen and heard it personally. Usually when it does, it means a LOT of shoveling or chipping ice after...The last time I recall seeing it, it snowed nearly 6 inches in less than an hour.
2007-01-20 01:50:27 · answer #2 · answered by Mello 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning can, and does occur with both sleet and snow. It is simply less likely.
The reason is that thunder storms occur mainly in the Summer, and accompany the formation of cumulo-nimbus clouds. Cumulo-nimbus clouds are subject to extreme convection currents (air turbulence) which causes electrical charge separation. (Sometimes these convection currents reach ground level, and the result is a tornado!)
Whereas, snow usually comes from nimbus clouds, which usually (but not always) lack sufficient air turbulence to generate the electrical charge separation necessary for lightning.
2007-01-20 08:33:31 · answer #3 · answered by Ian Philip 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen lightning during snow before, though it's rare. During rain, there's more warm air rising and cool air sinking, creating more free electrons, and causing more lightning.
2007-01-20 01:29:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can lightening in the snow! Because of the colder temperature, it is much more rare. But the times it does lightening in the snow can be much more powerful. I've seen in during serious blizzards and it can be frightening and beautiful.
2007-01-20 01:24:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only time I was extremely close to being struck by lightening was on a mountain top DURING A SNOWSTORM. Lightening CAN happen when it snows.
2007-01-20 01:41:45 · answer #6 · answered by ki0dz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its not true,i have seen many times lightning
without rain, there is even a note,that dry
lightning can have more impact and is more
dangerous, than with rain.
2007-01-20 01:33:56 · answer #7 · answered by Nanno D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
less static electricity and less conductivity on much lower temperatures
2007-01-20 01:30:50 · answer #8 · answered by blinkky winkky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ur hoTT!!11!one!!1 =-D
2007-01-20 02:15:01 · answer #9 · answered by asleep 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋