The spelling of the word "thundery shower" is not intuitive, as it is not spelled how it sounds. The first part of the word, "thundery", is pronounced as "THUHN-də-ree", with the stress on the first syllable. The second part, "shower", is pronounced as "SHOU-ər", with the stress on the second syllable. The word as a whole refers to a specific type of weather phenomenon characterized by thunder and rain. Despite its spelling, "thundery shower" is a useful term for weather forecasters and those planning outdoor activities.
A "thundery shower" refers to a meteorological event characterized by the occurrence of thunder and lightning along with precipitation in the form of rain. It typically involves the development of a convective cloud system known as a thunderstorm. Thunderstorms are intense weather phenomena that occur when warm, moist air rapidly rises and condenses, forming towering cumulonimbus clouds. These clouds are usually associated with significant vertical development and contain strong updrafts and downdrafts.
A thundery shower produces heavy rain that often falls in a short period of time, making it a relatively brief event. The rainfall within a thundery shower can be intense and may lead to localized flooding, particularly if the storm system moves slowly or stalls over a certain area. Lightning occurs due to the separation of positive and negative charges within the cloud and between the cloud and the ground, resulting in a discharge that produces the characteristic thunderclap.
The atmospheric conditions required for a thundery shower depend on factors such as moisture content, instability, and the presence of a triggering mechanism, such as a cold front or a warm, humid air mass. These conditions are commonly found in areas with a warm climate, such as tropical or subtropical regions. The occurrence of thundery showers can be seasonal, more frequent during summer months when temperatures are higher and atmospheric instability is increased.
The word "thundery shower" is a combination of two words: "thundery" and "shower", both of which have their own distinct etymology.
The word "thundery" is derived from the noun "thunder", which comes from the Old English word "thunor". This can be traced back to the Germanic root "thunraz" or "thonar", meaning "thunder". The suffix "-y" is commonly added to nouns to form adjectives, denoting the quality or characteristic of something. Therefore, "thundery" describes something that has the characteristics or qualities of thunder.
The word "shower" stems from the Middle English word "schour", which is ultimately derived from the Old English word "scur", meaning "a short period of rain".