what causes thundersnow?

Question

During a heavy snowstorm....what causes, what we call ...thunder snow and lightening as well.

Answer 1

That happens when enough rising air causes a reaction. In other words extreme vertical motion (as in a summer thunderstorm in a cumulonimbus cloud) that will cause thunder and lighting. Usually when that occurs you will have very heavy snow upwards of 2-3in per hour. However this does not occur every time it snows only in very strong snow storms and blizzards with a deepening low pressure system. Lighting can, though rarely, in the winter strike the ground so it is possible to get struck in the winter. Living in near Chicago I have experienced this several times before.

Answer 2

Thundersnow occurs when there is sufficient convection in the clouds producing snow to form a cumulonimbus cloud, which is a thunderstorm-producing cloud. This happens in the vicinity of the center of a powerful storm or when a storm is rapidly becoming stronger.

Answer 3

Thunderstorms could ensue while the air is risky, meaning that the version of temperature between the floor and the best of the troposphere is large. Technically speaking, it ought to be greater suitable than the dry adiabatic lapse value. that is with the aid of fact it takes lots of electric powered static charge to reason the lightning and, to get carry of that, the air could pass quickly, over an prolonged time, and reason friction between the molecules of air and ice crystals. this happens maximum many times for the period of the summer time, while the floor is heated via the sunlight and a chilly front strikes in. in spite of the indisputable fact that it call additionally ensue at any time of the 365 days and the excuses may be fairly diverse. All it takes is a extensive vertical temperature difference. right it particularly is an occasion of wintry climate thunderstorm: In my usa, Norway, for the period of the wintry climate the coast is warmed up via the Gulf pass yet, inland, it gets very chilly. while the wind blows from the north, bringing chilly polar air, magnificent over the sea, it particularly is warmed up via the Gulf pass. while that air meets the Norwegian fjords and mountains, it has to upward push and that reasons an orographic cooling of the moist complication-free air from above the sea. As condensation reasons latent warmth, that air keeps buoyant and increasing. the effect is an exceedingly sturdy and nasty low tension it somewhat is still table certain or strikes up and down the coast. It comes with out warning and is feared via the interior of sight fishermen. yet in specific situations, it additionally reasons a thunderstorm that comes inclusive of snow precipitation. it particularly is what then you definitely call "thundersnow."