Unusually loud thunder claps heard over Scottish capital during rare meteorological phenomenon
Frightened Edinburgh residents contacted the emergency services when they were woken in the early hours by loud explosions they feared were the result of a plane crash or a building collapsing.
Police explained that their rude awakening had been caused by the phenomenon known as “thundersnow”, which happens when thunderstorms form in wintry conditions, giving rise to heavy downpours of snow.