Why are thunder storms less frequent in winter than summer?

In order for rain or snow clouds to form, there generally must be some sort of upward vertical motion which lifts moisture-containing air. As the air rises its pressure drops and it gets cooler, and once it gets cool enough the moisture condenses and forms clouds. read more

Most thunderstorms last about 30 minutes and are typically about 15 miles (24 km) in­ diameter. The two biggest threats associated with most thunderstorms are lightning and flash floods. To understand why thunderstorms occur more often during the warm months requires some understanding of thunderstorm basics. read more

Best Answer: Lightning occurs less frequently in the winter because there is not as much instability and moisture in the atmosphere as there is in the summer. These two ingredients work together to make convective storms that can produce lightning. Without instability and moisture, strong thunderstorms are unlikely. read more