Lightning Activity in Winter Storms: A Meteorological and Cloud Microphysical Perspective

Abstract

The literature on meteorological context, predominant microphysics, charge separation and lightning in winter storms in a wide variety of geographical locations is reviewed. Both similarities and differences between summer and winter conditions are discussed. Particular emphasis is given to a snow dipole, whose existence is clearly manifest in summer conditions in the End of Storm Oscillation and in the positive end of lightning `bipoles'. Outstanding problems in winter storm electrification are discussed.