Thundersnow...A Rising Phenomenon?

reply to post by ~Lucidity


Funny enough there hasn't been that much snow. There was some late last night but it is the pelting of frozen sleet pellets on the window all night that has kept me up. No. Snow and thunder are not common here even tho I am in the middle of the Great Lakes region. The first I experienced it was a couple of times a year or so ago. I am 62 and don't remember this happening before that.

Such a cool show of nature! I've witnessed thundersnow at least three times, all occuring within a two year timeframe when I lived in South Dakota a few years ago. It's pretty fantastic stuff. The most intense of the three included some incredible green lightning. It really is an odd experience. Your senses are registering a thunderstorn, but your subconscious is whispering that there is something not quite right about this scenario, even though your brain is telling you it's a prefectly normal phenomenon.

reply to post by wayno

That's good to know because I'm trying to keep track of any reports I hear to see if there might not be a pattern. But then I see patterns everywhere


reply to post by indigothefish

I swear there was a band named Thundersnow that kept showing up on the searches

They really could have picked a better name for this. Let's let Stephen Colbert pick one. I'm still laughing at sleetnamis.

reply to post by dalloway

Love the way you put that! When this happened here, the sky was also pink...a light, light shade that made everything glow. And the echo through the trees was pretty awesome. Thanks for replying

reply to post by LadySkadi

Always so kind...I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. I had never heard this name before Monday, either. The gravity wave things s going to keep me up tonight. Mama nature.is awesome, but...ugh when she gets mad at us? Duck!

Absolutely loved this Lysi! The way you incorporated your sense of humour through your words (and pictures) made me smile throughout!

First time I've even heard about this phenomena.

Hmm now a few questions...and sorry if I haven't read the other posts yet...speeding in and out here...

I'm assuming there's no record before 1900 then? Why do you think that is...due to lack of organisation/no belief in it...or that it's just recently started this century...and if so..why? Due to human related activities such as the Industrial Revolution? What's really interesting is the lack of reports...on a conspiracy angle one could automatically assume that e.g. people could have caused them and don't want it going out...

And wow, great find on the gravity wave aspect of it.
Here's something interesting:
Gravity Waves Makes Tornados

and another thing I found interesting from a research report mathingy:

gravity waves plays an
important role in the vertical transport of chemical species, momentum and energy in the
upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UT/LS), and in the mesosphere and lower
thermosphere (MLT)

Link: www.tiimes.ucar.edu...

Could indeed be a factor into thundersnow...

Great research you!

This will be the epic thread on Thundersnow!

I had never heard of it, so thanks for all the good information.

In the last couple years during the winter here in the Golden Horseshoe region, I have been lucky enough to witness it a couple times each season. It usually only happens during blizzard conditions.
This morning I was wakened by some thunder, and as my eyes opened up I saw lightning and more loud rumbles (enough to vibrate the windows). It was pretty intense this morning. First time I witnessed it this season so far.

reply to post by apodictic


Thundersnow happens here in Nebraska on a regular basis. Usually, it means we're in for 6+ inches.

A proverb from back in the early 1800's "When you hear thunder in winter snow will be a week away" According to the Farmer's Almanac this is about 70% accurate, the actual times are between 5-10 days in most regions above and below the tropics.

More thundersnow...
Check out at 1:36... camera distortion and bam... a nice sharp loud one!


Lucidity, me too! I just love seeing the spirit of people looking out & helping each other out. There's never enough of that!
All this thundersnow talk... has me hearing the thundercats theme song from '85 in my head... lol!
Awesome thread! I'm looking forward to watching it grow, as the phenomenon continue's with these intensified storms.
Cheers!

Great thread...very informative about thundersnow!

I'm in NE Indiana, and I've experienced this phenomena 2 times.

Once in 1999, and then

Last night, 2011.

I'm more awe-struck at the lightning produced, although I didn't see any lightning last night, in 1999 I did. Seeing the night sky lit up by lightning during a snowstorm dropping 3-4 inches an hour, is to cool for words.

Once again, thanks to the OP for a great job.

rev

I've lived in NM all my life and I remember a couple of years back I heard thunder for the first time during a snow storm and I thought...hmmm that's strange, never heard that before. I've heard it since and every time I do I think it's odd. This is Interesting...thanks for the post.

reply to post by ~Lucidity


Hi we had it here in mid mo. quite amazing, beautiful really. Talk later busy as you can imagine. I did talk with one of the heads of the deployed backups, we were one of the only places that did get the help after the stormageddeon.

They were actually stationed in Chicago, so I KNEW that Chicago was going to be in for it next.

Lots to say but I have to go for now, just stopping inATS for a minute.

reply to post by ~Lucidity


Excellent work. Wow. Thanks so much.

...I've experienced it a few times, all recent. Was wondering. Now, thanks to you, I have a better understanding.

NE Indiana here, and it was predicted last night but we didn't get any. It also didn't snow as much or as hard as was forecast; the storm kind of petered out on the up-swing. I have seen/heard it before, but not very often. I know I've read about it from accounts of the US pioneers........I'm wondering if it's not mentioned in the Donner's Party lore, as they were caught in the worse storm for centuries.
There is another thread with a picture of a thundersnow storm.
From the physics angle, it makes a lot of sense. Extreme cold snow/ice being blown about by extreme winds, would create more electrons getting excited, and BOOM! Lightning and the thunder that follows.

Like a few others have said it doesn't seem unusual at least around the great lakes. I grew up in Michigan ahd remember it happening a few times.

Rare? yeah I guess but not too unusual

I had never heard of Thundersnow until a few days ago, when I was watching the weather on the news. It sounds like a really weird idea, until you actually think about it.

I swear we had Tundersleet Monday night in Fort Worth, Texas. One of the strangest things I've ever experienced.

reply to post by ~Lucidity


Yes, I have personally witnessed it in Idaho. I believe it was sometime in January of 1983. The one thing that stood out in my mind was the pinkish hue that it lit up the night sky with. It was the freakiest thing I had ever seen.

reply to post by ~Lucidity



Wouldnt that be called snow thunder instead of thunder snow

reply to post by ~Lucidity


Beautifully put together. Congratulations

S & F. Rising phenomenon? Not in my experience but I would suggest that possibly like so many of these things there is heightened awareness.

iv experianced thundersnow storms probley 3 times in my life. last night i seen the night sky light up once with a bolt of lighting so i guess that would be the 4th time althought i didnt hear the thunder.


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