Well there are many factors involved in lake effect snow. The biggest being relatively warm large bodies of water, and cold air moving over them. The temp extemes causes moisture to form, and when the air is lifted over the land mass, from lake level, it condenses and releases the moisture as snow. This time of year, the lakes are very warm coming out of the summer season,and the temp extreme is even greater, so more dynamics involved, thus the thunder snow and lightning. While all this is somewhat related to low pressure impulses this time around, there isnt one central low pressure sytem responsable.
However I will agree that they are storms, much like thunder storms during the summer are still storms.
But I guess the end result is what matters and in this case its alot of snow. Better you than me.
Dino