Yes, the calendar says it’s technically Spring, but Old Man Winter isn’t quite done with us yet, and may not be for a while. Weekly snowstorms have become the norm since about mid-February, but this one could pack the biggest punch of them all… at least in my neck of the woods. The word “thundersnow” was mentioned…
Yes, that’s a real meteorological term. Just ask famed extreme weather fanatic Jim Cantore….
That live report occurred during my senior year in college, and it was the talk of everyone in my meteorology classes. Gotta love the expression on Cantore’s face when he sees the lightning flash, and confirms the strike when he hears the thunder. While it’s easy to mock him (and boy did we ever), he’s no less giddy than anyone else who has a fascination for the weather would be were they in that situation. They just wouldn’t look like a dork on national TV….
I’ll bet the cameraman blows away before I do…
While the term thundersnow had been around before that Cantore moment, I often credit that campy report with popularizing the term. Thundersnow is merely a snowstorm that is powerful enough to produce lightning, which is rare since thunderstorms are generally fed by warm air. And if a snowstorm is capable of producing a lightning strike or two…… get ready, because you’re about to get dumped on!
We’re ready!
Thundersnow events typically produce very high snowfall rates. As I look out my window now, I have not heard any thunder (yet), but the snow is already coming down hot and heavy… just like a good convective rainstorm would. If it weren’t below freezing, you can bet we’d be getting pummeled with the kind of weather the Midwest is more used to seeing this time of the year….
ouch
Spring can wait. We’ve got at least one more day of snowplows, snow days, and snow angels ahead of us. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
there was thundersnow here in Maryland during the Snowmaggedeon of 2010 and believe me it was scary. Then the weather peeps promised Thundersnow a few weeks ago and we got nuthin.’ we felt more than a little cheated, like the roller coaster ride shut down right when we were at the front of the line. Hope you can enjoy it, as much as possible.
http://knockedoverbyafeather.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/the-dragons-loyalty-award/
Thank you! I love the artwork on that award, and that just might get me to actually make an acceptance post for it…..
I hope you do. You are a very loyal friend.
We get thundersnow here in Wisconsin at least once a winter. Fun stuff!! Everyone loves to shout “THUNDERSNOW!!” because it is just a fun word to say, darn it!
It is! And our storm is officially a thundersnow! Heard three rumbles already this morning…
Keep it there please. I don’t want any more snow.
I’ll see if I have any pull left with the weather gods….
Please do. It is really nice here today.
I immediately thought of you when I heard it on TWC! Enjoy! 75 degrees here today.:)
Save your brag for poor Bob, who’s stuck here in this mess!
Have you had the good fortune of meeting or having dinner with him?
Oddfish. I’ve never heard that term before, and I grew up in MI. I feel a little bit cheated right now!
Btw: the pic of the squirrel getting thwacked in the junk by a stick had me laughing so hard that I shot snot out of my face. Which made me laugh harder. Thanks
HA! That was somewhat inspired by a real picture another internet friend of mine posted last year of him standing in his yard pointing in the direction of a tornado in the background. I said that’s awfully dangerous to have been out in the middle of a twister, and showed him why….. THWACK!
Let it snow? No. please, no! I need spring to arrive! I’m so tired of this frigid weather. It’s hard work and really gloomy. I’m glad you’re having fun though!
The only thing that would have made this cooler was if it had happened in April. I love freak unseasonal weather phenomena!
Sometimes it’s cool, it’s just dragging out too long for me right now…
Love THUNDERSNOW
It’s great! 6 and a half inches out there now according to my trusty ruler, and it’s still coming down!
I have only seen it snowing on TV. True to form, I originally missed the stick because I was distracted by the cute but windy cow!
Moooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!
lol same with me and the stick vs cow haha I also happen to be from Kansas so I couldn’t help but start thinking about ruby slippers, flying witches, and yellow brick roads for some reason. haha
I got to experience my very first ThunderSnow when we had the big snow storm come through Kansas a month or two ago. : ) I had never heard of it before then but it was pretty cool to experience/witness.