Thundersnow in Edinburgh

Most are well acquainted with thunderstorms, but what if they released snow precipitate rather than rain? The answer unveiled itself in Edinburgh, Scotland. Thundersnow, bringing louder-than-normal bouts of thunder and a more intricate style of lightning, befell the area, causing local citizens to report supposed explosions to emergency services. In a shocking twist of events, the ear-splitting “explosions” were thunder amplified by the snowfall.

In the early morning hours, the storm in Edinburgh began. In nature, it was similar to any other thunderstorm besides the fact that it precipitated snow; however, this minor difference made all the difference in the world. The presence of snow rather than rain magnified the sound of the thunder, causing it to be so loud that residents thought explosions were going off; the reverberations even set off car alarms! Conversely, the resonance of the thunder could not travel through a great distance due to the sound dampening abilities of the snow. The lightning produced by the storm was also more dazzling than regular lightning as it reflects off the white snow.

Thundersnow generates severe snowfall of around 2-4 inches per hour. Paired with the wind conditions of thunderstorms, this results in an alarming risk of wind chills and frostbite, necessitating that people remain inside during such storms. Snow also poses a threat to civilians since it significantly limits visibility, particularly when coupled with the wind in thundersnow storms. Additionally, the lightning that these storms summon is usually of the worst variety, known as positively charged lightning. Bolts of such have a distinct purplish-blue appearance that hints at their alternate nature. Positively charged lightning is not exclusive to thundersnow; in fact, many have likely viewed it before in a conventional summer storm. The difference is that while this form of lightning scarcely occurs in thunderstorms, it is almost guaranteed in thundersnow, furthering the threat that they pose. For example, in February of 2002, four teens in Maine were injured after lightning struck where they were standing. In Minneapolis, March 1996, thundersnow caused lightning to hit another man. This tragic unfolding was the consequences of the devastating nature of positively charged lightning.

The reaction experienced in Edinburgh to the seemingly strange phenomenon is not unexpected, as thundersnow is not a common occurrence in the locality. Instead, these storms tend to emerge in midwestern America and the Great Lakes regions of the United States and Canada. On rare occasions, they can appear in the Sea of Japan, Mount Everest, and in this case, northern Europe. Nevertheless, the weather is a worldwide phenomenon, so locations cannot be ruled out from the experience of thundersnow, especially as science begins to reveal the changing climates and environments of the planet.

While the storm did not bring about much harm to Edinburgh, thundersnow is capable of considerable peril, which is why people must have the means to repair and rebuild after the event. Organizations such as the American Red Cross make this possible. “The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. [They] aspire to turn compassion into action so that...all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope.” To help contribute to this cause, please visit the link below this article.

Website Link: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/