What Is Thundersnow?

Happy snow day, Hudson Valley!

If you live in the Hudson Valley, you most likely have a snow day today or decided to keep safety first and stay off the roads. We're expecting up to 12 inches of snow in some parts of the Valley.

This morning I drove into work a little earlier than I usually do to hopefully avoid the nasty roads, luckily Winter Storm Niko had not started yet. The snow was just beginning to fall when I pulled into the parking lot and that's when I thought I saw lightning.

Because of the early hour, I thought I might be seeing things, however it happened again and this time followed by thunder.

Apparently, thundersnow is a thing.

After a little research, I found out that thundersnow has a lot to do with the different layers of clouds. The Weather Channel explains it much better than I can, but they say "Most thundersnow events develop when ordinary flat, layered snow clouds develop upward bumps or turrets."

Did you hear and see the thundersnow and lightning? Share your photos on our Facebook page.