Thunder! Snow!

Really! About 5:30 this morning we had two huge rolling reverberating thunderclaps, loud enough to send Sparky dashing for cover. Snow, which began falling around 4:30, was just beginning to accumulate.

Two weather systems colliding, says the meteorologist. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

"Thundersnow also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thunder snowstorm is a rare thunderstorm with snow falling as the primary precipitation instead of rain. It commonly falls in regions of strong upward motion within the cold sector of extratropical cyclones between autumn and spring when surface temperatures are most likely to be near or below freezing. Variations exist, such as thundersleet, where the precipitation consists of sleet rather than snow."

L. left for the airport at 5:35, walking up the hill to meet her ride. I've checked airport sites for Seatac and her arrival airport - Seatac says her flight departure is delayed, the other airport still shows it as an on-time arrival.

Sparky went out on the deck about 6, and left a random pattern of footprints. Two hours later they were completely filled in.

And it's still snowing. Later I'll go out for a walk, to give my new boots a proper workout.