Does it usually get warm before it snows?

Answer 1

It depends on what you mean by "does it get warm?". See below.

It can snow even at incredibly cold temperatures as long as there is some source of moisture and some way to lift or cool the air. It is true, however, that most heavy snowfalls occur with relatively warm air temperatures near the ground - typically 15 F or warmer since air can hold more water vapor at warmer temperatures.

When is it too warm to snow? How does snow form if the ground temperature is above freezing? Snow forms when the atmospheric temperature is at or below freezing (0 C or 32 F) and there is a minimum amount of moisture in the air. If the ground temperature is at or below freezing, of course the snow will reach the ground.

However, the snow can still reach the ground when the ground temperature is above freezing if the conditions are just right. In this case, snowflakes will begin to melt as they reach this warmer temperature layer; the melting creates evaporative cooling which cools the air immediately around the snow flake.This cooling retards melting. As a general rule, though, snow will not form if the ground temperature is 5 C (41 F).

Answer 2

In my experience it gets warm AFTER it snows. I don't know why that is, but snow usually signals a break from the cold.

Answer 3

No. But it does usually warm up before it hails.