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WATCH | Rare thunder sleet caught on camera in Beaumont

12News StormTracker Chief Meteorologist Patrick Vaughn caught the weather phenomena pre-dawn Monday

BEAUMONT, Texas — Did you hear it?

Many across Southeast Texas trying to get a glimpse of the winter weather Monday witnessed a rare weather phenomenon -- thunder sleet!

12News StormTracker Chief Meteorologist Patrick Vaughn was out checking weather conditions when he caught the thunder sleet on camera. 

And he wasn't alone. 

12News got reports across the Golden Triangle about the thunder sleet. 

So what is it?

Thunder sleet is similar to thundersnow -- it's caused by an increase in elevated convective energy. All of this energy is called instability and is a lifting mechanism to produce lightning and thunder.

This is the same thing that happens during those spring and summer thunderstorms. But what makes thunder sleet (and snow) rare is that warm layer forms during cold weather events to create the rare sights and sounds!

Did you see or hear the thunder sleet? Send us your pictures! Just go to the NEAR ME tab inside the 12News Now app and click SHARE WITH US. 

You can also go to your camera roll, click the share button and look for the 12News logo (you have to download the 12News app first).

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