How do thunderstorms build up the voltage required to create lightening, and why done we have winter lightening.

Question

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.

In: 0

Answer 1

Winter lightning does exist “thundersnow” – in [Edinburgh we had a burst 2 years ago](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-55184493), it was unbelievably loud as the snow holds the sound in place, and unbelievably bright as the snow lit up with the lightning. I honestly thought I was having some form of stroke.