In message , Joe Egginton
writes
Penny Farthing wrote:
About 2 years ago on a Wednesday evening about 5pm we had a thunder
storm with snow. I had never seen thunder and lightning before with
snow in all my (quite long) life.
This was in North Surrey by the way near Croydon and Sutton.
Does anybody on this friendly group remember it? Is it really that
unusual? What caused it?
Penn


I think it was in January 2004, like you it's the first time I saw a
thunderstorm with heavy snow. It's quite unusual in this country,
because you need very cold air undercutting mild air.


All depends on whereabouts in the country you are, Joe. On coasts
exposed to polar maritime airmasses heavy snow showers accompanied by a
single "flash-bang" are quite common in winter. On the west and north
coasts of Scotland there are more thunderstorm days in winter than in
summer.

Dave Wheeler might have some thoughts on this, being well and truly in
the firing line.

Norman.
(delete "thisbit" twice to e-mail)
--
Norman Lynagh Weather Consultancy
Chalfont St Giles 85m a.s.l.
England