can it be too cold to snow and what temp would it snow at?

Answer 1

I would say no not really. North Pole is well below zero every single day and it snows alot. If you were talking about Freezing Rain, then yeah.

Answer 2

Here is the problem with all of these answers. Everyone is thinking of the surface temperature. But you have to look at what the temperature is higher up. It is true that the warmer the air is the more moisture it can hold. So very cold air holds little moisture. Also cold air is more dense (heavier) than warm air. So lets say is SUPER cold where you are. People will start thinking "it's way too cold to snow", then it snows. How is that possible. Well it's because warmer (wetter) air moved in to the area. And because warm air is less dense (lighter) it is forced aloft (up...like up a ramp). So it is actually warmer and wetter higher up in the atmosphere. Then the precipitation falls through the very cold air that is near the ground and is cooled and forms snow. So remember, just because it is cold at the surface doesn't mean that there isn't a warm, humid layer higher up. Also the reverse it true. If it warm at the surface and it is cold aloft you could still get snow at the surface even if it is above freezing. This happens because the precipitation starts as snow and doesn't have enough time to melt completely before it hits the ground. If it does have enough time to melt completely you will get rain, but it doesn't mean it didn't start off as snow. Winter time forecasting is very tricky. You have to look at the temperatures at many different heights in the atmosphere and the thickness of those layers. I hope this answers your question.

Answer 3

In theory it can be too cold to snow - but it's like -60 so, when people say it's too cold to snow here in the UK they're full of s***!!

Also it'll can snow at anythign below 0, although it needs to be much colder for snow to form, as long as it doesn't melt on the way down it's all good!

Answer 4

I know for definite it can be too cold to snow i'm not sure exactly the temp you need for snow but it can definitley be too cold for it.

Answer 5

Precipitation occurs when humid air is cooled to its dew point.

As air gets colder, its capacity to hold moisture (humidity) diminishes. At very cold temperatures there is so little moisture in the air, and so little potential for additional cooling that snow is very unlikely.

But, I suppose it can be argued that there is always a theoretical possibility that it can snow. Getting to a low enough temperature is the problem.

Answer 6

Yes, its always slightly warmer when it snows because there is cloud cover. its most cold when there is no clouds, and you can't have snow without clouds. So yes it can be too cold for snow.

Answer 7

No, it can't be to cold to snow. Look at the north and south poles!

Answer 8

siberia and the artic 50 degrees below zero...................no it cant be too cold to snow

Answer 9

yes it can