Are there thunderstorms in winter

Instead of convection lifting of the air starting at the surface, it starts higher in the atmosphere, several thousands of feet up. But first, there needs to be a layer of air above the surface that is warmer than the surface itself. If that air gets warmer with height or is forced upwards by some atmospheric feature, then convection can occur. The result was thunderstorms! So, an elevated thunderstorm is one whose base is well above the ground.

Another way elevated convection can occur is when lifting and instability begin at the ground, but the air there is very dry. So, if the air gets a big enough push upward, it will become saturated and unstable.

This can produce convective clouds and thunderstorms that have bases well above the surface, even though the lifting started at the surface. For example, when lightning strikes a sand dune, it can instantly melt the sand into glass. The combination of the rapid heating of the air by the lightning and the subsequent rapid cooling creates sound waves.

These sound waves are what we call thunder. There can never be thunder without lightning. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. There were 24 named storms last winter, including two in October. Example of a named winter storm - Winter Storm Xylia - as shown by accumulated snowfall from the West to the upper Midwest in March The number of named winter storms, by month, from through spring February is the peak month for winter storms.

Guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns Regardless of the Weather. National Parks in Seven Months. Quake Hurls Boulders at Climbers. What we do know according to a study is that if you do get "thundersnow," you're likely to get dumped on quite heavily [source: Crowe et al.

So if it does start coming down and thundering, be prepared for a snow day. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close.

Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Forces of Nature. Does thunder in the winter mean snow is coming? There's an old saying that states, "thunder in the winter brings snow in seven days.