I don’t recall ever hearing it, though the Great Chicago Snowstorm of 1967 was preceded by thunderstorms, and I remember that snowstorm quite well. Last night, as this 2011 blizzard took hold with its fierce winds and continuous snow fall, claps of thunder shook the rafters and claimed the news reports for a short while. I was amazed at the intensity of the thunder, officially referred to as “thundersnow” though snowthunder sounds like a better word to me.
Our bedroom is on the second floor, with a half-moon window at its highest peak. We get such a dramatic view of falling snow from this window. Last night’s performance was spectacular as the snow swirled round and round and the flakes bumped into each other and gathered, en masse, along the outside ledge.
Snow and mermaids and thundersnow, clapping with delight as the great Blizzard of 2011 began its first act.
Oh what a beautiful stained glass piece and a lovely window to hang it in! Do you remember a tv show years ago with Sally Field and John Davidson (blast from the past) called “The Girl with Something Extra” ? It only lasted about one season and I don’t remember much about it except that their bedroom had a big stained glass window above the bed and the mother of one of the main characters, I can’t remember which, described their bedroom as looking like “a hippy church”. Penny, your bedroom window immediately brought that to mind!
I already started a post about the storm but can’t post it till I get a couple photos on the computer, but I called it “Thundersnowpocalypse”! That lightening and thunder really caught me off guard, at first I thought the high winds and snow had caused a power line to fall.
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Thank you, Janet. Snow or sunshine, the mermaid seems to like it there.
I’m not remembering “The Girl with Something Extra”, but, it sounds like I would have liked the bedroom and stained glass. Yep. We could be a hippy church. Across from the stained glass is a crucifix.
I can’t wait to see your “Thundersnowpocalypse” photos and post. I didn’t see the lightening, but, heard what sounded like a truck crashing. Tom called out and asked if I heard the thunder. It was quite impressive as it continued for a bit.
Has Eoin been out in the snow yet? The boys next door were climbing the high drifts from the wind and then the snowplows and having a field day.
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Very pretty. We didn’t hear any thunder, but our daughter in East Peoria did. She even saw the lightning. It was so pretty outside last night. It almost looked like something we might see on the moon or on an instantly frozen moving body of water. That gives me a thought, maybe we are in Narnia and the White Witch is back. It looks that way. I love your mermaid window and she looks like she may have come from Narnia as well. Stay warm and safe.
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I didn’t see the lightening, Janet. Wished I had, but, the thunder was impressive. It was pretty last night. Now, that’s a thought. Maybe if I just go into my walk-in closet and don’t wear my glasses ’cause I can’t see anything in there and pretend it is a wardrobe . . .
You too. Stay warm. Just took some cookies out of the oven.
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Really nice photos! Like the description of snow flakes bumping into each other. Dramatic storm for sure. My car is completely buried, so I think I’m snowed in for awhile.
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Thank you, Jennifer. We can get out now, thanks to Dad and good neighbor Rick making several passes, including late last night. I went out for awhile and waded up to my knees in snow. Sorry about your car. Wish we were there to help. Stay warm.
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I’m learning so much about extreme weather, here in New Zealand where our climate is pretty temperate. I’ve never heard of thundersnow, and had no idea that thunder could rumble at the time of a snow storm. This morning I’ve been listening to the reports of the cyclone that has hit Queensland. Australia is a long way off, and our storms are not extreme in that way, thankfully. Love your picture of the snow window.
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Actually, Juliet, most of us in this area had not heard of thundersnow either, me included. I’ve lived through three such historic snowstorms and one winter where the snow never melted, making the snow piles over 8 feet tall, and don’t recall this phenomenon. Having said all that, I must admit, it was pretty impressive last nigh. I only wish I had seen the lightening that accompanied it.
We have had some reports on the cyclone. They seem to have had such violent weather this year, haven’t they? Your temperate climate seems so tranquil – and the pictures of your bach so peaceful. I love viewing them.
Thank you. It was such a beautiful sight last night as the thunder rolled.
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I like you I like you I do like you too..
and what a huge storm you have been living through!
Such winters you have like I’ve never seen,
thunder and snow storms and that turn me quite green ,
green as in envy
for just one whole day
i would like such a storm to come my way..
watching the snow swirling and wild..
but I do like our winters.. although they are mild.
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Joan, you gave me my morning chuckle – and I deserved it, didn’t I?
I hope your winters never change, nor your summers, for they bring such warmth to us in the northern hemisphere. As I write this, the temperature is 1° Farenheit. Brrrr!
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Once again your words evoke such great expressions.
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Thank you, Mary Anne. No snow today, but, it is mighty cold!
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Magical. You have captured such a moment, Penny 🙂 Those moments when nature is a true drama queen are my favourite. The same momentous feeling as standing on a North Cornish clifftop as a storm brews.
Thank you!
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Thanks, Kate. I can only imagine the intense beauty of such a North Cornish scene. Hope all is well in your magical forest.
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What a beautiful window! A thundersnow sounds incredibly frightening. I hope you’re not too badly snowed in up there! The blizzard missed New York, it seems. We got a ton if icy rain instead. It’s pretty treacherous out on the pavements but the sun is out today and hopefully it will start to melt. I am ready for Spring, I have to say! All this cold and snow and ice was lovely to start with but now I am sick of it!
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Thank you, Rachel. It was interesting. We did get a lot of snow, 18 inches in our little spot. I don’t envy you the ice and you have certainly had a snowy winter to remember in NY. Hang in there – we’ve still a few months to go. Springtime in New York City can be quite delightful and you will love it.
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[…] Joe Cantore was enjoying the thundersnow, which is a rare and potentially dangerous phenomenon not often witnessed.  I experienced it for the first time in 2011, and wrote about it here. […]
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