Here in norther Canada, I have never seen lightening in winter – when the surface temperatures are below freezing. But the upper atmosphere where the stores clouded reach to are always far below freezing.
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Thunderstorms don’t build up a voltage but instead a charge. Charge is built up from a variety of ways but simply, a transfer of electrons from one *insulator* to another.
You’ve probably at one point rubbed a balloon on your head and had your hair get attracted. This is due to the potential difference created between the balloon and hair (similar to how a magnet works, + and – attracts)
When water vapor transfers electrons in the cloud, parts of it become changed differently. This creates a potential difference between the ground and clouds.
When there is enough potential difference, the air below become ionized. (this is the start of the lightning) The bolt travels down turning atoms in the way into ions. When it finds a way to ground, a concentrated current flows through the path of ions created and applies a voltage across the air, partially balancing the potential difference, until there isn’t enough energy for the ions to remain ions and the air returns to normal.
The winter air have different conditions and may be dryer. This dryness or lower water concentration can mean less potential difference or more resistance in the air (its harder to create ions in the air). It could also simply be that less clouds are created or that the movements in the clouds are slower from less temperature differences. Any factor to reduce charge buildup or increase resistance in the air can cause less lightnings. (it could also be that the clouds are higher in the air).
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