Thundersnow: What Is It?

1/7/2022 (Permalink)

Thundersnow poses an increased safety risk, combining the consequences of snow accumulation and the dangers of thunderstorms' thunder and lightning.

Maybe you’ve heard of the epic weather event that is “thundersnow.” If you haven’t, get ready to learn about the bizarre winter weather event that combines a thunderstorm and a snowstorm in today’s blog. Continue reading to learn the answers to such questions as: “What is thundersnow?”; “When and why does it happen?”; and “What should I do to keep my property safe during a thundersnow event?” 

What Is Thundersnow?

In essence, thundersnow is the winter equivalent of a thunderstorm, as the Farmer’s Almanac explains thundersnow to be the result of warm and cool atmospheric temperatures colliding. As opposed to thunderstorms with rain as the primary form of precipitation, thundersnow instead combines snow with lightning and thunder. The type of atmospheric collision required for thunderstorms and thundersnow is more likely to occur during the spring and summer due to warmer temperatures, but fronts carrying extremely cold temperatures, like Nor’easters on the East Coast, can approach warmer cold fronts during the winter, which can result in prime conditions for thundersnow. Just last week, thundersnow made an appearance in Maryland, which goes to show that these events happen more often than you might think.

Thundersnow Safety

Thundersnow events pose an increased safety risk, as they threaten the consequences of the snow accumulation characteristic of snowstorms alongside the usual dangers of thunder and lightning from thunderstorms. As a result, keeping your home or business as safe as possible during a thundersnow event requires additional attention. You may experience heavy snow accumulation or lose power as a result of strong winds and lightning. Just as you would during a thunderstorm, do not go outside during a thundersnow event unless absolutely necessary. Thundersnow events, because they are so uncommon, usually come as a surprise when they do happen. Keep an eye on the forecast and watch out for lightning and sounds of thunder during snowstorms in the event that thundersnow occurs. 

Trust SERVPRO’s Storm Damage Restoration Services

No matter what type of storm your property experiences, from a thunderstorm to a blizzard to thundersnow, SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team - Team Wall has you covered. Our renowned Storm Damage Restoration and Commercial Storm Damage Restoration services, as well as our advanced technologies and access to SERVPRO’s nationwide network of Disaster Recovery Teams, will ensure that your property receives the restoration services and care that it needs after any emergency. At the first sign of damage, pick up the phone and call SERVPRO of Metro Pittsburgh East at (412) 672-5400 to speak with one of our knowledgeable team members and enlist the help of our 24 Hour Emergency Service, which will help make your home or commercial business’ storm damage “Like it never even happened,” year-round.