Why is thundersnow rare?

Winter air rarely rises strongly enough

What does thundersnow need?

Strong rising air within a winter storm

What can lightning in snow look like?

A bright glow lighting the whole sky

Why can thundersnow be dangerous?

It signals intense snow and lightning

Thundersnow Quiz: Lightning Inside a Snowstorm

This thundersnow quiz listens for thunder in the middle of a blizzard. Play 10 interactive questions on how strong winter storms can hold enough rising air for lightning, why thundersnow is rare, snow that muffles thunder so it is heard only nearby, very heavy snowfall rates, lake-effect thundersnow near the Great Lakes and a famous TV weatherman's excited reaction.

Start Thundersnow Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

What
What is thundersnow?
Rare
Why is thundersnow rare?
Need
What does thundersnow need?
Muffle
Why is thunder harder to hear in thundersnow?
Distance
How far away can thundersnow thunder usually be heard?
Rate
What often comes with thundersnow?
Lake
Where can lake-effect thundersnow happen?
Light
What can lightning in snow look like?
Famous
Which TV meteorologist became famous for celebrating thundersnow?
Danger
Why can thundersnow be dangerous?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What is thundersnow?
Answer: A thunderstorm that brings snow
Lightning and snow together.
Q2: Why is thundersnow rare?
Answer: Winter air rarely rises strongly enough
Instability is usually low in winter.
Q3: What does thundersnow need?
Answer: Strong rising air within a winter storm
Instability builds charge.
Q4: Why is thunder harder to hear in thundersnow?
Answer: Falling snow muffles sound
It travels shorter distances.
Q5: How far away can thundersnow thunder usually be heard?
Answer: Only a few kilometers
Normal thunder carries farther.
Q6: What often comes with thundersnow?
Answer: Very heavy snowfall rates
Several centimeters per hour.
Q7: Where can lake-effect thundersnow happen?
Answer: Near the Great Lakes
Cold air over warm water rises.
Q8: What can lightning in snow look like?
Answer: A bright glow lighting the whole sky
Snow reflects the flash.
Q9: Which TV meteorologist became famous for celebrating thundersnow?
Answer: Jim Cantore
His reactions went viral.
Q10: Why can thundersnow be dangerous?
Answer: It signals intense snow and lightning
Travel can stop quickly.

Lightning in a Blizzard

Thundersnow is a thunderstorm that brings snow instead of rain. It is rare because winter air seldom rises strongly enough to build the electrical charge needed for lightning. It happens within intense winter storms or in lake-effect snow near the Great Lakes, where cold air passing over warmer water rises sharply.

Falling snow muffles sound, so thundersnow thunder is usually heard only within a few kilometers, unlike normal thunder that carries much farther. Lightning flashes can light the whole sky as snow reflects the glow.

Thundersnow often comes with very heavy snowfall rates of several centimeters an hour, making travel dangerous quickly. TV meteorologist Jim Cantore became famous for his excited reactions to thundersnow, clips that went viral.

What This Quiz Teaches

Weather fans will enjoy these questions.

What thundersnow is
Why it is rare
Why thunder is muffled
Where it happens
Why it can be dangerous

Did You Know?

Thundersleet also occurs.
Mountain areas can see it too.
Radar shows intense snow bands.
It can last only minutes.
Snow totals jump during bursts.