why does it go warmer when it snows?

Answer 1

Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't.

When the temperature in moisture laden atmosphere falls below freezing point then the moisture freezes and snow or ice crystals are formed. These then fall to earth.

But... although snow may fall from the clouds it often lands as rain and that's because for each 150 metres of altitude gained there is a drop in temperature of 1 degree Centigrade (apart from when there's a temperature inversion and then it's the other way round). So the snow formed in, and falling from the clouds, passes through warmer air as it descends, if the air is more than a few degrees above freezing point the snow will melt before reaching the ground and fall as rain instead.

For any snow or sleet, rain, hail or drizzle to fall there has to be moisture in the air and the warmer the air the more moisture it can contain. When the air contains the maximum moisture it can (saturation vapour pressure) it has to get rid of the excess moisture either by leaving it behind as dew or offloading it as precipitation. Moisture enters the air through evapouration from the seas, oceans, lakes, rivers etc. If the air is at or below freezing point there can be no evapouration and no moisture enters the air - no moisture means no precipitation. It's for this reason that you'll often hear people say it's too cold to snow. It's actually never too cold to snow but the liklihood of snow falling decreases as the temperature falls (the geography of the land also plays an important part but that's a different matter).

Your statement about it warming up prior to snowing is more relevant in respect of people living close to seas and oceans where the weather is determined more than anything by the proximity to the water.

If a very cold air mass is coming in off the ocean it won't bring any rain or snow with it, but if it warms up enough for evapouration to take place then it will bring moisture with it. If the air mass subsequently cools by mixing with colder air then there is a greater chance it will snow.

So... if you've been experiencing very cold weather it can *sometimes* warm up before snowing.

Answer 2

snow is made of crystalized ice. Snow is always 32 degrees F or 0 degree C.
and if the air temperature is below freezing, the snow is warmer than the air. but I think it's the ice crystals which are made of H2O.
That changes the temperature of the air and sometimes the sun shining on the snow will reflect more heat. Mainly I think it's the snow trapping the heat and keeping it from rising.

Answer 3

When it snows it seems warmer because it is.This is one of the reasons it is.

It is problem cloudy out when it snowed an the clouds trap the heat and reflect it.This is why it gets so cold on mornings on a clear day because the heat can escape.The snow also reflects the light so it gets warm.

Answer 4

It doesn't. It gets warmer and then it snows. A warm front collides with very cold air and the resulting condensed moisture falls as snow because of the frosty weather conditions.
http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/snow.asp

Answer 5

Global warming is really a misnomer. The proper term is climate change. The increase in the overall temperature of the earth affects the ocean currents which intern have a massive effect on climate and weather conditions. A slight change in these currents can and often does result in a change in the climate that is affected by that particular current. So as strange as it may sound the warming of the worlds oceans can result in some areas getting colder than normal weather conditions.

Answer 6

When the heavy clouds that contain water vapor move in above us, they help to insulate us and keep us cold. When it starts to snow, and the clouds loose some of their water vapor, the sun can start to send its gamma, and ultraviolet rays down to heat us. The sun's gamma, and ultraviolet rays cannot pass through the water molecules, and they get dispersed.

Answer 7

Snow, like all precipitation comes from clouds.
A cloudless sky means lower temperatures, as the clouds act like a blanket.
So a cloudier sky means it gets a tad warmer.
That's my reckoning, anyhow.

Answer 8

as above