why do people say "its too cold to snow"? its not too cold in the Antarctic?

Answer 1

Snow is frozen water, ice crystals, it does snow in the antarctic, and in the arctic. The temp needs to be below 0 for snow to stay snow, or it melts and becomes water, or sleet. Anyone who says it's to cold to snow is either making a sad attempt at a joke or is just dumb.

Answer 2

Cant use Antarctic when comparing. It's a desert and not much snow falls there anyway.

Lower temperature means the air can holder a smaller amount of moisture. So it's less likely, but not impossible, to have snow at -20 then at -10. In a weather report if the "snow isn't reaching the ground," it just means that it's too dry near the surface and any snow or precipitation that falls to near the surface will dry up. So technically "it's too cold to snow" makes no sense.

Answer 3

Is it ever too cold to snow? No, 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.

Answer 4

The UK has a maritime climate, a small island surrounded by warm water. Generally, it can't get really cold here without becoming quite dry too, ie; if there's dampness in the air, the air has to fairly warm, otherwise it wouldn't be able to carry it. It follows that during a very cold spell, there is very little precipitation available to fall. What sometimes happens is that it snows when the temerature rises a little.

Answer 5

No, 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

Answer 6

The saying 'it is too cold to snow' is an old wives tale, a fallacy. It is never too cold to snow. I think people say that because generally speaking a blanket of snow seems to warm everywhere very slightly.

Answer 7

You know when people say "wrong sort of leaves on the line" - it's like that. It's one of those weird things in life that goes against the course of nature. It's ALWAYS cold in the Antarctic & their snow never melts (unless they've got a bad case of global warming).

Answer 8

Actually, it is! Very little snow falls in the Antarctic (which, by the way, is the world's largest desert) and what there is is confined to the coast. All that white stuff you see blowing about is ice.

Answer 9

If you have been up north you would know the difference the temperature makes. Snow is lite and falls with the wind and if it is to cold what falls comes stright down and can hurt. Kind of like beauty and the beast.

Answer 10

Actually, Antarctica is EXTREMELY dry -- it is a large desert!

"Driest: Average precipitation is less than 2 inches per year."

http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/weather/storms.shtml