Why no lightening in the winter?

Why no lightening in the winter?

Science

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m

Joined
23 Mar 06
Moves
20827
30 Mar 10

There is certainly precipitation in the winter and stormy weather.

Is there a minimum temperature that lightening can occur?

s
Fast and Curious

slatington, pa, usa

Joined
28 Dec 04
Moves
53223
30 Mar 10

Originally posted by mlprior
There is certainly precipitation in the winter and stormy weather.

Is there a minimum temperature that lightening can occur?
I think it has to do with less humidity in the air in winter, it's funny, that is also the time we get zapped the most from static electricity too! Also less humidity means less updrafts so less energy available for static charges in the clouds. Seems ironic that you get less static in the atmosphere but more static on the ground right to our fingers, eh.

Insanity at Masada

tinyurl.com/mw7txe34

Joined
23 Aug 04
Moves
26660
30 Mar 10

Originally posted by mlprior
There is certainly precipitation in the winter and stormy weather.

Is there a minimum temperature that lightening can occur?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thundersnow