With the impending doom of snow on the horizon, I figured it is about time we all talk about what snow is all about! We always think that snow falls come from a drop in temperature which is only partially correct. It’s all about the atmospheric temperature, moisture in the air, and the temperature here on the ground!! If the atmospheric temperature is below freezing and the ground temperature is also below freezing, snow is capable of reaching the ground!
It’s also important to have the right amount of moisture in the air. A heavy snowfall occurs because slightly warmer air has a higher vapor content which can be the perfect condition for snow to reach the ground. Warmer air is usually considered to be 15F (which isn’t warm we all know that).
Snow occurs when water vapors in the air freeze before they turn into water. It’s crazy because snowflakes form when dirt or dust in the air!! I think that’s insane!!! Dust (our dead skin lol) helps to make pretty snowflakes!! It’s like the circle of life! They form shapes called platelets, needles, columns and rime. The size of the snowflake depends on the number of ice crystals that run into each other and how they collide. In slightly warmer temperatures, the snowflakes are bigger because the edges melt a bit allowing more ice crystals to stick to one another. The cool dry air promotes structures that don’t allow for the flakes to stick together. There are no two snowflakes that are the same due to their path to the ground. Each snowflake comes down going in a different direction picking up unique crystals on its way down.
All I can say is snow can be the best if you are capable of staying home and not interacting with it. If you do have to go out and travel in it, be careful. Watch out for black ice too on the following day. If you can stay home, I highly suggest drinking some hot cocoa (spike it 😉 if you can) and eat a grilled cheese!!!
Short and sweet about weather!!
Z
