Skip to content
Menu

How “Thundersnow” Works

We saw it all yesterday! Snow, ice, rain, wind and maybe even some thunder? There were reports across Nova Scotia of thundersnow! What is that!?

It’s basically a thunderstorm, but instead of rain there’s snow and ice! They’re pretty rare, but Nor’easters can really bring them to fruition! That’s what happened yesterday! Let’s break it down:

When warm, moist air shoots upward through cold air:

  • Water droplets and ice crystals collide
  • Electrical charges separate
  • Lightning forms, just like in a summer thunderstorm

But because the whole storm is below freezing, snow falls instead of rain.

Scary stuff, right? Thundersnow can also cause lightning and worsening visibility!

Check out the video for a more in‑depth explanation!

  • Bryan Tait is an award-winning journalist based in New Brunswick. He’s a 2008 graduate of St. Thomas University’s journalism program, and a 2021 graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s law program. Contact Bryan at taitb@radioabl.ca.

    View all posts
loader-image
Port Hawkesbury
2:33 pm, Apr 11, 2026
weather icon 8°C | °F
L: 8° H: 8°
light rain

What’s Trending