Thundersnow

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Thundersnow is a rare weather event that tends to get significant attention when it transpires. Thundersnow happens when lightning ...

Within the thundersnow, thunder can only be heard within two to three miles of the lightning strike. Thundersnow lightning is infrequent compared to summer thunderstorms; it is also usually cloud-to-cloud and not cloud-to-ground. Human-made structures, like skyscrapers, can focus a positive charge in the lower levels of a snow cloud, concentrating enough of a charge for lightning to form. The air warms as it travels over the lakes and then rises into the colder atmosphere. Once the air climbs high enough, a sufficient charge builds for lightning to form. Strong instability, abundant moisture, and a lifting mechanism (like a warm front) are typically prevalent in situations that lead to thundersnow.