"Dave.C" wrote I was driving down the A13 at 20.15 at the time. I was
trying to figure out
why it was torrential sleet when the thermometer (usually accurate) was
showing -1C. Then when I saw lightning and the radio crackled I thought
I
really was going mad. Surprised it hasn't settled more given the
intensity
and air temperature. For once I think the ground is warmer than the air!

I was in Brentwood at 16.30 hrs yesterday, in the middle of a heavy
sleet/snow/soft hail shower. The temperature on the car thermometer was
1C and I remember wondering the same - there was a lot of melt on the
ground for such a low air temperature.

On the subject of lightning in snow showers, we've discussed this before
but it was a common experience of mine in Co. Durham, when a winter NE
airstream brought intense snow showers off the North Sea. Temperature
(mentioned elsewhere) seemed to have nothing to do with it - I've seen a
lively thunderstorm/blizzard (is it: "Blunderstorm" or "Thizzard"?), with
spindrift swirling around the roads and off the roofs like icing sugar,
and an air temperature well below zero.

- Tom