Weather Tidbits: Wintertime Thunder Folklore

This edition of Weather Tidbits will be discussing the folklore that correlates wintertime thunderstorms to snowfall in the future. This folklore states that wintertime thunderstorms signal that snow will follow within the next 10 days. While the scientific accuracy of this may leave a lot to be desired, there is actually some merit to this. Thunderstorms develop with a trigger in the atmosphere like, for example, a cold front. Despite limited instability during the winter, cold fronts during this time of year are stronger and more dynamic, which allows for the development of thunderstorms. With the passage of these thunderstorms and said cold front, it could mark the start of a colder pattern change. With this pattern change, the chance for snow could increase within the next 10 days.