1. Popular term for thunderstorm. 2. Sometimes applied to a relatively rare condition of disturbed atmospheric electric field in the lower atmosphere that arises when strong winds are blowing and much dust is in the air, but there is no thunderstorm activity. Triboelectrification due to the blowing dust may charge fences and other metallic objects to such an extent that slight shocks are felt upon touch. 3. Same as earth-current storm.