This winter has been a bit unusual. While we are still computing weather records on the topic, most of us can't remember a winter with this much lightning and thunder. Lightning is usually associated with thunderstorms, and thunderstorms are typically a summer and spring event. However it's certainly not unheard of. There are as many as 2000 thunderstorms occurring on the planet right now. That translates into 100-125 lightning strikes per minute on the planet Earth. While most of these due occur during the warmer months, lightning is often reported in major snow events such as blizzards and nor'easters. This year in New England we've been getting more lightning not because of big snow events, but because we've had such clashes of air masses that summer like thunderstorms have been developing. Lightning and heavy rain have plagued our forecast this winter. And yes, lightning in the winter is as dangerous as in the summer. People have been struck by lightning in the middle of winter.

Mike Wankum
Meteorologist
WCVB-TV