Question about the weather?

Question

Ok, so this might seem like a stupid question, but I am curious about something.

What is the difference between a 'thunderstorm' and a 'thundershower'? I have often wondered this. They are both things that I have seen forecasted, but I don't know why they are different.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Answer 1

This is likely THE classical question to ask in any weather office that is nearly certain to start an argument.

There is no strict definition used that separates the differences between the two terms. However, there is a difference in the way that they are used in different parts of the country.

From the Rocky Mountains and west, the term Thunderstorm is indeed used to just say there is a cloud that is producing thunder and lightning. And in that line of though, the term Thundershower, means a thunderstorm that is also producing rain. This can make a difference to those who are in the fire fighting business in the West. The term dry thunderstorm is also used to denote that there may not be rain with the thunder and lightning.

Further east, some weather offices will use the terms pretty much interchangeable. Sort of like the differences between hurricane and typhoon. That is, no difference other than location.

Some offices due to the confusion this topic has caused in the past will not use the term thundershower. That appears mostly in the central portion where the majority of tornadoes occur. All clouds that produce thunder and lightning are thunderstorms. Period.

A thunderstorm is thunder, lightning, and rain and says nothing about either the strength of the storm or how much rain, hail, wind, or any other weather parameter it may produce.

Some offices use both terms, with the term thundershower is a weak thunderstorm and is unlikely to have any severe aspects to it. In that case, the term thunderstorm is used in an attempt to distinguish those storms that have some potential to become severe.

A severe thunderstorm has a specific definition and which is a thunderstorm that produces winds of 58 mph or more and/or hail 3/4 inch in diameter or larger or a tornado. .

So, like the terms hurricane and typhoon, the meanings may be the same, it is just the location you happen to be in and how the terms are applied locally. Usually the TV forecasters have more influence on what terms are used than anyone else.

Answer 2

Evidently from all the interesting answers it was not a stupid question. A thunderstorm may be part of a large storm front. A thundershower may be part of an isolated storm cell that will pass over quickly and may even miss. The significance often is that the heavy rains at the leading edge of a thundershower may entrain air on the way down causing strong (possibly destructive) gusts as the rain-driven air spreads out ahead of the storm. Its a good time to put away outside objects that could blow away.

Answer 3

Thundershower is defined as rain lasting 10-15 minutes, associated with a thunderstorm.

Thunderstorm is a storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning

So I'm assuming that the Thunderstorm is the whole thing in general and the thundershower is the actual rain, but it does last for longer then 15 minutes at a time so this is the part I don't understand.

Answer 4

Indiana frenchman is correct except for one little detail. The thunderstorm does include the rain as well but the thundershower is just a "thunderstorm" that lasts 15 minutes or less.

Answer 5

A thundershower is a short fall of rain with thunder and lightning whereas a thunderstorm is a storm with thunder and lightning and, usually, heavy rain.

Answer 6

maybe a storm is more severe than a thundershower....

Answer 7

um i think thunderstorm is when there's no rain just thunder and/or lightening

thundershower may be when it rains AND there's thunder/lightening

Answer 8

thunderstorm is rain or no rain thunder and lightning,thunder shower is really heavy rain