Articles | Volume 3, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-361-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-3-361-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
31 Mar 2022
Research article |
| 31 Mar 2022
| 31 Mar 2022
Differentiating lightning in winter and summer with characteristics of the wind field and mass field
Deborah Morgenstern
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences (ACINN), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Department of Statistics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Isabell Stucke
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences (ACINN), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Department of Statistics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Thorsten Simon
Department of Statistics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Georg J. Mayr
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences (ACINN), University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Achim Zeileis
Department of Statistics, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Thunderstorms without tropopause penetration in Central Africa produce cloud-top jet events A. Nambalirwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aosl.2025.100730
- Thunderstorm ground enhancements observed on Aragats mountain in Armenia in the wintertime A. Chilingarian et al. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/acf340
- L-band microwave-retrieved fuel temperature predicts million-hectare-scale destructive wildfires J. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2024.103776
- Upward Lightning at the Gaisberg Tower: The Larger‐Scale Meteorological Influence on the Triggering Mode and Flash Type I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD037776
- Diagnosing upward lightning from tall objects from meteorological thunderstorm environments I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2024.110199
- Temporal and Spatial Variations in Lightning Activity and Meteorological Parameters Across the Indian Himalayan Region and Indo-Gangetic Plains R. Singh et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-025-00391-x
- Two Laterally Distant TGFs From Negative Cloud‐To‐Ground Strokes in Uchinada, Japan J. Ortberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039020
- Thunderstorm and Lightning Activities over Western Pacific, Northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea Along with Their Adjacent Lands J. DING et al. https://doi.org/10.3724/j.1006-8775.2023.026
- A machine learning-based backward extension of IMERG daily precipitation over the Greater Alpine Region I. Goudarzi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108763
- Precipitation, microphysical and environmental characteristics for shallow and deep clouds over Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin F. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.107155
- Deep convection, lightning activity and population impact over northwest Mexico: Coastal hotspots from 2009 to 2018 L. Farfán et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8164
- Upward Lightning at Wind Turbines: Risk Assessment From Larger‐Scale Meteorology I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039505
- Rapid evolution of energetic lightning strokes in Mediterranean winter storms I. Kolmašová et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00965-6
- Thunderstorm environments in Europe D. Morgenstern et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023
- Identifying lightning processes in ERA5 soundings with deep learning G. Ehrensperger et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-1141-2025
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Thunderstorms without tropopause penetration in Central Africa produce cloud-top jet events A. Nambalirwa et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aosl.2025.100730
- Thunderstorm ground enhancements observed on Aragats mountain in Armenia in the wintertime A. Chilingarian et al. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075/acf340
- L-band microwave-retrieved fuel temperature predicts million-hectare-scale destructive wildfires J. Lee et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2024.103776
- Upward Lightning at the Gaisberg Tower: The Larger‐Scale Meteorological Influence on the Triggering Mode and Flash Type I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD037776
- Diagnosing upward lightning from tall objects from meteorological thunderstorm environments I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2024.110199
- Temporal and Spatial Variations in Lightning Activity and Meteorological Parameters Across the Indian Himalayan Region and Indo-Gangetic Plains R. Singh et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13143-025-00391-x
- Two Laterally Distant TGFs From Negative Cloud‐To‐Ground Strokes in Uchinada, Japan J. Ortberg et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039020
- Thunderstorm and Lightning Activities over Western Pacific, Northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea Along with Their Adjacent Lands J. DING et al. https://doi.org/10.3724/j.1006-8775.2023.026
- A machine learning-based backward extension of IMERG daily precipitation over the Greater Alpine Region I. Goudarzi et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2026.108763
- Precipitation, microphysical and environmental characteristics for shallow and deep clouds over Yangtze-Huaihe River Basin F. Chen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2023.107155
- Deep convection, lightning activity and population impact over northwest Mexico: Coastal hotspots from 2009 to 2018 L. Farfán et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8164
- Upward Lightning at Wind Turbines: Risk Assessment From Larger‐Scale Meteorology I. Stucke et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JD039505
- Rapid evolution of energetic lightning strokes in Mediterranean winter storms I. Kolmašová et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41612-025-00965-6
- Thunderstorm environments in Europe D. Morgenstern et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-4-489-2023
- Identifying lightning processes in ERA5 soundings with deep learning G. Ehrensperger et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-1141-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 09 Jun 2026
Short summary
Wintertime lightning in central Europe is rare but has a large damage potential for tall structures such as wind turbines. We use a data-driven approach to explain why it even occurs when the meteorological processes causing thunderstorms in summer are absent. In summer, with strong solar input, thunderclouds have a large vertical extent, whereas in winter, thunderclouds are shallower in the vertical but tilted and elongated in the horizontal by strong winds that increase with altitude.
Wintertime lightning in central Europe is rare but has a large damage potential for tall...
