Rare weather phenomenon caught on camera in Elizabeth Thursday
DENVER (KDVR) — While snow fell across Colorado on Thursday, a rare weather phenomenon was captured on camera near Elizabeth.
It wasn't just a snowstorm — one FOX31 viewer captured a video of snow falling through the trees in Elizabeth when a rumble accompanied the flakes, creating the rare phenomenon known as thundersnow.
Denver weather: Afternoon snow and wind, Pinpoint Weather Alert Day
In short, thundersnow is the same as a thunderstorm, but instead of rain, it's snow. However, according to Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Greg Perez, it doesn't normally occur in the winter because there isn't as much energy in these types of systems.
The National Severe Storms Laboratory said thundersnow occurs when there is a warm front with relatively strong instability and abundant moisture above the surface. Perez said this is rare because in snowstorms, there is a lack of heat and low cloud levels.
Perez said it's also rare because it can go unheard, especially when the snow muffles the sound of the storm.
FOX31 Weather: View the latest Denver forecasts, maps and radar
In 2024, Colorado saw a similar storm, where a FOX31 viewer captured a video of thundersnow near Lookout Mountain. The storm brought in rain, hail, snow and thunder in late March. A little more than a year later, the phenomenon was captured on camera again.
Rain and snow are expected across Colorado, including in Denver, until Saturday, then the city should start to warm up next week.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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