There are usually three forms of thundersnow:
A normal thunderstorm on the leading edge of a cold front or warm front that can either form in a winter environment or one that runs into cool air and where the precipitation takes the form of snow.
A heavy synoptic snowstorm in the comma head of an extratropical cyclone that sustains strong vertical mixing which allows for favorable conditions for lightning and thunder to occur.
A lake effect or ocean effect thunderstorm which is produced by cold air passing over relatively warm water, this effect commonly produces snow squalls over the Great Lakes.
We are the fourth.
There was an "ice quake" in madison last week. Apparently the rapid climate change along with the curvature of the earth caused the ice on lake mendota to crack and caused the quake that measure approx 2.0 on the rictor scale. Look it up.
