Thunderstorms

well it also depends on where you live.. i know we had a thunderstorm turn into a tornado in january before in tn.. i think its because the hot air that has to clash with the cold air isnt hot enough or maybe you have to be hot first then cold air come through.. not sure..

WE had a thunder storm a few nights ago! it was awesome! sometimes when it snows it will thunder and lightening.. so it can't be the temps that make them rare in winter months.. hmmmmmmmmm good question though!

Even here in the central part of Indiana, there will be rare times when the temperature rises enough that precipitation is liquid instead of solid. Most times, no lightning and thunder even then. However, it has been known to get warm enough and enough low pressure to produce lightning, thunder, and even hail and tornadoes during the winter months. It's happened at least a couple of times this very winter. Even more rare is thunder during a snowstorm, but this also happens. Here's a neat, little story I wrote that contains--among other things--a thunder snow... http://www.epinions.com/content_4671905924

well, we had a huge snow storm before christmas and believe it or not, it was thundering (of course i wasnt looking for lightening as i was trying to get home) but here is a link that i found that may be interesting to you. http://www.physorg.com/news94404161.html

The conditions in winter are less favorable for thunderstorms, but that doesn't mean that they can't happen. I remember one winter, a couple of days after the new year, there was a snow storm. All of a sudden I heard thunder! Scared me out of my wits! I had to ask my grandma about it, because I thought the same as you, there are no such things as thunderstorms during the winter, and definitely not during a snowstorm! But it does happen.

Hey saundyl! I think that you need to have a different kind of moisture in the atmosphere to produce thunder. I believe that the temperatures need to be warmer. It is rare to have thunder in the winter, but I have heard thunder on occasion. But, it is very low and not like in the summertime. I would have to look it up to be sure, but I do think it has to do with the atmospheric pressure and the temperatures being warmer.