Thundersnow Experienced over in Klobuck, Poland! (credit: fotosymetria.pl via Meteo Europe)

DISCUSSION: As of earlier today, there was an impressive thundersnow event which unfolded across areas in and around Klobuck, Poland.  During the heart of the Winter season, there seldon are ideal conditions which can facilitate stronger upward vertical velocities.  Within the heart of larger-scale winter storms, you can often find a greater amount of in-cloud particle (i.e., hydrometeor-based) separation at or above the height at which the 0°C (or 32°F) level is positioned.  This occurrence of particle separation typically occurs due to a sizeable imbalance in the concentrations of positively- and negatively-charged particles within different regions of the cloud (specifically within the parts of the cloud where the highest density of dendritic snow growth (or "pretty" snowflake formation) is occurring.  Thus, this imbalance is released in the form of a electrical discharge which is observed as thundersnow.  In situation in which there is a cold, deep layer of concentrated moisture and strong in-cloud air parcel vertical velocities, this can add substantial support to the episodic potential for occurrences of thundersnow such as what recently occurred over in Klobuck, Poland!

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©2017 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz