Does thunder in winter mean snow is on its way? We examined the facts with a meteorologist.

By: Eliot Pierce

Sharing is caring!

Some winter weather aficionados are currently crossing their fingers and toes because of an old wives’ tale that states that if it thunders in the winter, it will snow the next week.

Is this accurate? because on Wednesday, December 11, several of us heard thunder.

These are the opinions of professionals.

If I hear winter thunder, is snow on the way?

Not in a scientific sense. Although it might signal the approach of a cold front, it does not always mean that precipitation—more especially, snow—will follow.

In my experience, there will probably be a significant change in the air masses approaching if it is warm enough and the weather is conducive to thunder in the winter. In this instance, warm air turns into cold air, Barrett Smith, senior service hydrologist for the National Weather Service Raleigh, previously told The News & Observer.

Although there is no assurance, the following weather system may have an opportunity to engage with the cold air before it heats up once it has established over the region.

Was there lighting and thunder in NC this week?

James Danco, a NWS Raleigh meteorologist, confirmed that there was some thunder and lightning in North Carolina on Wednesday morning. Later in the day, there will be a greater chance of thunder and lightning.

Severe rain and wind gusts of up to 40 mph are predicted on Wednesday, which could result in localized damage in cities with poor drainage.

North Carolina weather forecast

According to detailed predictions from local NWS offices, the Raleigh and Charlotte metro areas should see showers and potentially a thunderstorm before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, with mostly clear skies overnight.

See also  A Richmond County mother is accused of giving her child LSD

According to Danco, Raleigh will receive 1-2 inches of rain overall, while Charlotte will receive 2-3 inches.

Another risk of rain is not expected in the areas until Saturday evening or Sunday morning till one in the morning.

“No snow is expected in the Raleigh and Charlotte areas,” Danco said.

Debunking the thunder to snow wives tale

According to a 2020 Spectrum News story, the North Carolina State Climate Office looked into this myth a number of years ago. The experts examined meteorological records from as far back as the 1940s from a variety of locations throughout the state, including Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte.

They found that lightning or thunder struck 642 times between the first of December and the end of February. In ten days, there were 85 snowfalls, or 13% of the total.

Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!

Leave a Comment