thunderstorm

[thuhn-der-stawrm]

noun

1. a transient storm of lightning and thunder, usually with rain and gusty winds, sometimes with hail or snow, produced by cumulonimbus clouds.

thunderstorm

/ ˈθʌndəˌstɔːm /

noun

1. a storm caused by strong rising air currents and characterized by thunder and lightning and usually heavy rain or hail

thunderstorm

1. A storm of heavy rain accompanied by lightning, thunder, wind, and sometimes hail. Thunderstorms occur when moist air near the ground becomes heated, especially in the summer, and rises, forming cumulonimbus clouds that produce precipitation. Electrical charges accumulate at the bases of the clouds until lightning is discharged. Air in the path of the lightning expands as a result of being heated, causing thunder. Thunderstorms can also be caused by temperature changes triggered by volcanic eruptions and forest fires, and they occur with much greater frequency at the equatorial regions than in polar regions.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thunderstorm¹

First recorded in 1645–55; thunder + storm

Example Sentences

“Strong to severe thunderstorms out ahead of this storm from Texas to Indiana will create major travel headaches for anyone flying out on Sunday.”

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But fans had to scramble last week after a sudden thunderstorm made Tyler, the Creator’s flagship festival at Dodger Stadium soggy and unnavigable.

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Toilets ran out of water, torrential thunderstorms flooded the venue, and delegates struggled to cope in hot, humid rooms.

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It is is a phenomenon which happens when thunderstorms form in wintry weather and give rise to heavy falls of snow rather than rain.

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Gusty winds leading to blizzards and thunderstorms - thundersnow - may bring additional hazards.

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Related Words

• deluge 
• downpour 
• drizzle 
• flood 
• hail 
• rain 
• rainstorm 
• sleet 
• storm