Explain it like I’m 5. Pretty much the title. Is it too cold when it snows to see the lightning? Do we just not see/ hear the storm as well?
In: Earth Science
1. On rare occasions, you do get thunder and lightning during snow storms, it’s called “thunder snow” Take for example a clip from my hometown: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qZpaYEImx8Y
2. But it is rare, and you’re pretty much right on the reason. It’s cold. Lightning and thunder are produced by really energetic storms. Typically when dense cooler are rapidly mixes with warmer, moist air, forcing that moist air to rise quickly and cool, making that moisture turn into clouds/rain. It is this rapid and turbulent movement that generates the static electricity you need to create lightning. Snow storms, being colder, just generally don’t have that same kind of turbulent energy.
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