Do thunderstorms intensify when they reach large cities such as minneapolis?

Question

Do thunderstorms intensify when they reach large cities such as minneapolis?

Answer 1

They can, due to the localized increase in instability due to the heat island effect.  It does not always happen, and I have noticed sometimes storms weaken as they approach large cities.

Answer 2

During a thunderstorm, lightning tries to find the easiest path to ground.  Actually, the huge differential voltage between cloud and ground (perhaps 600,000 volts) ionizes a jagged path from ground to cloud providing a leader for the bolt of lightning to follow.  The ionization path can initiate easiest from an elevated pointy object (like a lightning arrester, etc.).  As a thunder storm passes over a city with tall buildings (and lightning arresters) there may be an increase in bolts of lightning because of the many easier targets.

Answer 3

Storms will generally intensify when traveling over water.  I don't believe proximity to cities affects their intensity.