What Caused The Chicago Lake-Effect Thundersnow? | Weather.com
January 10, 2026Updated: January 10, 2026, 12:00 pm ESTPublished: January 10, 2026, 12:00 pm EST

Chicago got its first snow of the season, but it was far from your typical dusting. A band of lake-effect thundersnow took aim at the Windy City, bringing snow with a side of thunder and lightning. But how did this happen? Meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser breaks down the lake-effect phenomenon and how the rarity of thundersnow got into the mix.

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