SUNY Oswego students and faculty are studying thunder snowstorms as part of a new science research project funded by the National Science Foundation. 

There will be a "doppler on wheels", on loan from the University of Illinois, that will help study thunder snow on Lake Ontario and how lightning interacts with the more than 300 wind turbines in the region, which can impact the power grid.

Professors Scott Steiger and Yonggang Wang are hiring 22 undergrad students to help.

“The lab for a meteorologist is outside. So any chance I get to take students outside to collect data and do science is the apex of my career. I love teaching, in the classroom is a lot of fun, but its so much more fun to be collecting data, getting your hands dirty, out in the real world," said Steiger.

Steiger said this is a unique study, especially with the types of equipment they’re using to study lightning. And the students will have work cut out for themselves launching weather balloons, and then chasing them down. As well as going to the Tug Hill to brush snow off the instruments. 

“A lot of these research projects are done by scientists and graduate students. So being able to have over 20 undergraduate students, some of them are freshmen," said Steiger.

The project began in September and will finish in March. The public can check out this equipment for themselves from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, near the Shineman Center.