CLEVELAND, Ohio — Thunder and lightning are usually associated with summer heat and severe thunderstorms, not snow-covered roads and subfreezing temperatures. But in Northeast Ohio, winter storms can occasionally produce a rare phenomenon known as thundersnow.
While uncommon, thundersnow occurs more frequently in the Great Lakes region than in most other parts of the country — and Lake Erie plays a major role.
Thundersnow is snowfall that occurs alongside thunder and lightning, combining the structure of a thunderstorm with winter weather. When it develops, snow can fall at very high rates, quickly reducing visibility and worsening travel conditions…