# Lightning in a snow storm
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 23, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360 "2003-01-23T03:35:41Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/1 "2003-01-23T03:35:41Z")
We are expecting a big snow storm here and a friend of mine asked if it’s possible to have lightning in a blizzard, and I have no idea.
I think it would be possible, but I have never seen it.
Can anyone confirm that is indeed possible and has anyone seen ligtning is a snow storm?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/2 "2003-01-23T03:38:17Z")
Seems it is [possible.](http://www.ems.psu.edu/wx/obsboard/archives/1819.html)
Who knew?
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### Author:  [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/3 "2003-01-23T03:40:34Z")
Yes, it is possible to experience a thunderstorm during a snowstorm.
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/4 "2003-01-23T04:48:20Z")
An recent thread on this subject with a link to a much earlier discussion:
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=153114](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=153114)
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### Author:  [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/5 "2003-01-23T04:50:57Z")
Yes I have been in one and it was weird to hear thunder and be in a snow storm.
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### Author:  [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/6 "2003-01-23T05:24:12Z")
I’ve seen it once as well. One of the most beutiful things weather can do. Muffled thunder, pink clouds and a odd feeling in the air. I was sober, I swear.
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### Author:  [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/7 "2003-01-23T05:28:04Z")
Yep, I’ve heard thunder (which means there’s lightning somewhere) several times during a snowstorm.
I recall hearing that in order for this to happen, it must be snowing a good amount (several inches per hour). I couldn’t find a cite to back this up, but in every case I’ve seen personally, it was snowing very heavily. [This page](http://www.weatherwise.org/qr/qry.thunderblizzard.html) says that it occurs most often when the temp is near 32ºF, but no mention of snow rates.
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### Author:  [@Patricinus\_Scriblerus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patricinus_Scriblerus)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/8 "2003-01-23T05:53:48Z")
In Calgary there have been occasions where the weather patterns are just right for what are lovingly called Thunder Flurries. Really!!
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### Author:  [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/9 "2003-01-23T06:38:59Z")
I’ve experienced hearing the thunder only once, but I had had no idea that such a thing could happen. It was really cool to experience something so _different_.
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### Author:  [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)
#### Post date: [January 23, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightning-in-a-snow-storm/150360/10 "2003-01-23T17:17:53Z")
I experienced this for the first time this winter (NY State). Very freaky. I think more so because a snowstorm is generally a quiet event, unlike a rainstorm. That, and the flashes were this bizarre (though beautiful) purple. We had three flashes within about three minutes, and that was it. It was a rather warm and wet snowstorm, btw.