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CNN's Chad Myers answers winter weather questions

Meteorologist Chad Myers is a news and weather anchor for CNN.

SPECIAL REPORT

(CNN) -- Do certain winter weather events have you bewildered?

In an occasional series, CNN news and weather anchor Chad Myers sheds some light on winter weather phenomena, along with debunking a few common myths, by answering questions submitted by readers. (Submit your question)

Why has this winter been so mild and dry? It seems the winters keep getting warmer and warmer. The weather for December and January has been what we usually see in March and April. Is this because of global warming or something else?
-- Angie Collier from Maumelle, Arkansas

It has been very mild in North America this year, and a slight La Niña has been observed in the Pacific. That is the opposite of El Niño. The truth is that Europe and Asia have been way below normal this winter so far, and that just averages out the warmth here. I'm sure we'll see some very cold days still to come this winter.

Why is there no thunder and lightning during snowstorms?
-- Robert S. Smith from New Hartford, New York

In fact, there is thunder with snow two or three times every year. It is rare, but it usually occurs in a very heavy, wet snowstorm. The thunder can't be heard as far away though because the snow is a great sound insulator. It is always quieter when it's snowing.

Why does it not snow in Central Florida? Sometimes the temperature reaches 32 degrees, and Florida is surrounded by a body of water that can supply humidity in the same way the Great Lakes do in the Chicago area.
-- William from Kissimmee, Florida

It actually hails much more than it snows in Florida. In a thunderstorm, the top of the storm can be 40,000 feet high and with a temperature of -40 F. With rising air currents pushing raindrops up there, they freeze and fall to the ground as hail. Snow is made at a much lower altitude, and it must stay below freezing all the way to the ground. In Florida, there is almost always a layer of warm air somewhere in the atmosphere that causes any snowflakes to melt on the way down.

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Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.