Editing Thundersnow (section)

{{short description|Thunderstorm during which there is snowfall}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}<!--Predominant date format per MOS:DATEUNIFY-->
{{about|the weather phenomenon|the racehorse|Thunder Snow|the sports team|Western New York Thundersnow}}
[[File:Occludedfront.gif|thumb|400px|right|Thundersnow formation with an [[occluded front]]]]
{{Weather}}
'''Thundersnow''', also known as a '''winter thunderstorm''' or a '''thundersnow storm''', is a [[thunderstorm]] in which [[snow]] falls as the primary [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] instead of [[rain]]. It is considered a rare phenomenon.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Coulter |first=Dauna |title=The Mysterious Rumble of Thundersnow |publisher=[[NASA]] |website=NASA Science |date=24 February 2011 |url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/24feb_thundersnow/ |access-date=21 July 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127102231/https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/24feb_thundersnow/ |url-status=live}}</ref> It typically falls in regions of strong upward motion within the cold sector of an [[extratropical cyclone]]. Thermodynamically, it is not different from any other type of thunderstorm, but the top of the [[cumulonimbus|cumulonimbus cloud]] is usually quite low. In addition to snow, [[graupel]] or [[hail]] may fall as well. The heavy snowfall tends to muffle the sound of the thunder so that it sounds more like a low rumble than the loud, sharp bang that is heard during regular thunderstorms.<ref name=cnn>{{cite web |title=Thundersnow is a rare weather phenomenon. Here's what you need to know |website=[[CNN.com]] |first1=Brandon |last1=Miller |first2=Zoe |last2=Sottile |date=18 November 2022 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/18/weather/thundersnow-explainer-xpn/index.html}}</ref>

Thundersnow can occur during a normal snowstorm that sustains strong vertical mixing which allows for favorable conditions for [[lightning]] and [[thunder]] to occur. It can also occur from the [[lake-effect snow|lake effect]] or ocean effect thunderstorm which is produced by cold air passing over relatively warm water; this effect commonly produces [[snow squall]]s over the [[Great Lakes]].