what is thunder ice
Thunder ice is a winter thunderstorm where thunder and lightning occur during a period of freezing rain and rapid ice buildup, instead of mainly rain or snow. In other words, it is like “thundersnow,” but with ice as the main type of precipitation.
Quick Scoop
What is “thunder ice”?
- Thunder ice happens when:
- Surface temperatures are below freezing, so rain hitting the ground turns to ice (freezing rain).
* A layer of warmer air exists a short distance above the ground, so precipitation starts as liquid instead of snow.
* There is enough **instability** in that warm layer to generate thunderstorms, which produce thunder, lightning, and sometimes small hail.
- The result: a loud, intense icing event where you can see lightning and hear thunder while everything is being glazed over with ice.
How is it different from thundersnow?
- Thundersnow: thunder + lightning with heavy snow as the main precipitation.
- Thunder ice: thunder + lightning with freezing rain and rapid ice accretion as the main precipitation.
- Both are rare because you need:
- A strong, deep enough convective layer (air rising several thousand feet).
- Cold air near the ground but different temperature layers above to support storms.
Why is thunder ice dangerous?
- Freezing rain can create:
- Fast ice buildup on roads, power lines, trees, and cars.
* Very slick conditions that are worse than regular snow.
- During strong winter storms (like the recently named storm Fern), meteorologists have warned that extreme cold plus icing can even cause tree branches or trunks to crack and “explode” as sap freezes and expands.
Where are people talking about it now?
- Thunder ice has shown up in recent winter storm coverage in the central and southern U.S., with forecasters highlighting:
- Possible thunder and lightning embedded in freezing rain bands.
- Ice accumulation rates on the order of a few hundredths of an inch per hour during the most intense bursts.
- Forum and message-board posts going back years also use phrases like “thunder ice storm” for events with lightning, heavy ice pellets or freezing rain, and rapid icing on vehicles and windows.
TL;DR: Thunder ice is a rare but hazardous winter setup where a thunderstorm produces freezing rain and ice accumulation instead of mainly rain or snow, giving you thunder, lightning, and a rapidly forming ice glaze all at once.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.