Thundersnow, the rarest phenomenon in Australian weather, just happened. Yes, thundersnow

[riversedge]

Source: news.com.au




Thundersnow, the rarest phenomenon in Australian weather, just happened. Yes, thundersnow



4 hours ago July 12, 2015 7:21AM


SOMETHING incredible happened late last night as the Antarctic Vortex unleashed its swirling fury on south-eastern Australia.

Thundersnow. Yes, thundersnow. It’s a very rare meteorological phenomenon, especially in Australia, where you mix all the elements of a tropical style thunderstorm with the bitter cold of a blizzard. It’s quite the climatic cocktail.


But that’s exactly what was on the menu as an aperitif to the main storm front in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney last night, as thunderstorms roared through the mountains accompanied by heavy snowfalls in the mountains themselves and in nearby towns like Orange...............

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/thundersnow-the-rarest-phenomenon-in-australian-weather-just-happened-yes-thundersnow/story-e6frflp0-1227438661078

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[BlueJazz]

1. Cryst! Wish I could have seen that. I miss home.

[Violet_Crumble]

9. I saw all the lightning last night...

We got rain along with the lightshow and thunder, but in the outer suburbs of Canberra there was snow as well.

They're forecasting blizzards for this region today, so I'm going to crank up the heater, not go anywhere, and catch up on some of the things I've been meaning to watch on Netflix...

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/snow-for-canberra-severe-weather-warning-in-place-20150712-gia61r

[Warpy]

2. I was just reading complaints on another site

from Aussies who are freezing.

Here in the high desert, it's been socks to bed weather at night, really unusual for us.

[ebbie15644]

3. PA, USA I've experienced thundersnow several times! Enjoy!

[Person 2713]

5. Me too but won't shovel in it

[BumRushDaShow]

7. Ditto as a PAer

including several times this past winter, and a number of times during my lifetime. When the convection is strong, whether in summer or winter, you can get thunder and lightning. In winter, it is like a heavy summer thunderstorm except with snow instead of rain - literally "pouring snow". Usually see it when a strong cold front is coming through after an antecedent milder period, where you have rain turn to sleet and then to heavy snow.

[MBS]

16. My first thundersnow experience was in PA, too

Really neat!

[jen63]

26. We've had it here too!

SE Ohio.

[thecrow]

4. I have heard it also on the east coast usa

I couldn't believe it! It really is quite remarkable.... glad you had the experience!

[roamer65]

6. Nah. Climate change is just a left wing hoax.

Nothing to see here! Move on!

Keep warm Aussies, keep warm!

[brer cat]

8. It happened once

when I was living in northern VA. It is a pretty amazing thing.

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Ask Jim Cantore what he thinks about it.

He jumped out of his skin when we had some here last winter.

Really rare phenomenon. Great pics.

[NutmegYankee]

11. I've experienced it 7 times in just the past 6 years in New England.

I kind of dread it because it means the snow is coming down in several inches per hour rates.

[Reter]

12. Forget the lightning, I just can't fathom snow in July

Too weird for me.

[Hydra]

13. Other side of the Equator?

I do believe it's winter down south. Then again, we often get the weird snow in mid-june where I live in the States.

[snooper2]

25. It's January there

LOL

[romanic]

14. It's Winter

in Australia atm. But it's very rare for snow down there isn't it?

[Surya Gayatri]

20. NOT in the Australian Alps...

[Nye Bevan]

15. Not at all uncommon in the northeast US.

Interesting that it is so rare in Australia.

[Marrah_G]

17. This has started happenning in New England now also

The first time I heard it it scared the hell out of me. It sounded like the end of the world in white out conditions

[imthevicar]

18. I heard thunder snow for the first time I can remember

at least 40 years ago. My father mentioned it when I was a tot at least 50 years ago. Their is nothing new here! Rare but not new.

[CBGLuthier]

19. Had it more than a few times when we lived in Oklahoma.

It is a weird thing.

[LiberalElite]

21. Here's a TV station clip showing Jim Cantore

of The Weather Channel losing it over thundersnow - six times in one broadcast. Scroll down for a bonus "Baby Cantore" who gets excited watching him at the same time.

Thundersnow is not common but also not rare over here in the Eastern U.S. However, I haven't experienced it so far in NYC.

http://wtvr.com/2015/02/15/youve-got-to-be-kidding-me-watch-jim-cantores-thundersnow-freak-out/

[BarbaRosa]

22. I've experianced once here in SW NM.

Many years ago the lady I was with at the time and I returned home from partying, stoned to the bone. It was one of those snow storms where it was real still with silver dollar sized snow flakes slowly falling into the street lamp light. We were dancing about, catching snow flake in our mouths, did I mention were stoned, and all of a suddenly CRACK a bolt of lightning followed immediately by the thunder. It wasn't very long after that we were in the house wide eyed and blown away.

[dembotoz]

23. Seen it several times in wisconsin

Usually in connection with.. Aw shit it's really coming down out there

[WestSeattle2]

27. LOL!

[librechik]

24. Sydney! Good Lord! n/t