when is it to cold for snow?

Answer 1

There is a modicum of truth in this saying, particularly in the UK. The reason for this is that our coldest times are when the country is covered by an area of high pressure, as has been the case for the past few days. This means that there is little or no cloud cover to give precipitation and daytime heat can escape quickly at night. For snow to fall, there needs to be cloud cover which means that, relatively, it is warmer. However, heavy snow falls, particularly if the are blown in from the east, can be accompanied by piercing winds raising the wind chill factor significantly. I do accept, however, that the expression is a nonsense in areas where snow falls are regular occurrences.

Answer 2

This expression is not strictly true, as snow could fall from air of any temperature. In reality though, snow rarely falls from air that is very cold. This is because cold air cannot usually hold enough moisture for any type of precipitation. So in this way, the expression does have some truth in it.


In fact, the heaviest snowfalls occur when the temperature is at freezing point. More snow falls in a year in the southern part of Canada and the northern part of the United States than at the North Pole for exactly this reason.


We can therefore see why snow is so difficult to forecast. It snows the most when the temperature is around freezing, but a rise of just a degree or two can result in rain instead.

Answer 3

It's never too cold to snow (check out Siberia, Antarctica, etc). I just heard from relatives in Missouri, USA, that it's -18 degrees and snowing hard.

That said, in the UK, the heaviest precipitation (snow) usually happens as a result of a warm Atlantic "front" colliding against cold continental air (high pressure system) over Europe. As a result, the warmer air is never that far away. I think this is the weather scenario forecast for tonight.

In the UK, if and when it ever gets really cold, this is normally due to a stable high pressure system sitting over the country. Colder stillif it drags down air from the north. Blue skies and frost results, not snow. I think this is how the expression is derived.

Answer 4

It's never too cold to snow. It's -14 and snowing in some parts of Canada right now.

However, the colder it is, the less likely there will be moisture in the air to make snow. It will happen when two weather sytems collide - warm wet air meeting cold dry air usually gives snow.

Answer 5

what's Al Gore going responsible international warming on that exceeded off in the course of the years 1100 to 1400! Scientists from international huge have reported that in this era the earth got here out of the "Ice Age". If the earth hadn't warmed up, there may were no dwelling creatures round! i do not trust we had any production happening lower back then that could have warmed the planet! perhaps it develop into the dinosaurs fault! might want to or not that is that the earth's orbit alterations interior the picture voltaic equipment in courting to the daylight as scientists and astronomers have indicated because the medical reasoning in the back of an noticeably "moderate" climate change. The earth is continually replacing! even as guy tries to modify those alterations and begins to debris with "mom Nature", issues are particular to uncontrolled! The scientists have reported that in the "business Revolution" that began interior the 1800's to the wide-spread, this time period is an similar as extra or less a 17 minute time span of the age of our earth! they imagine a large meteor struck the earth and despatched up a dirt cloud that warmed the earth and killed off the massive majority of the dinosaurs that roamed the planet on the instantaneous. What occurs if the earth cools down and the dinosaurs go back? that can be a demanding vacation to artwork each day! i'm enthusiastic about sparkling water and sparkling air, although the authorities desirous to spend 1000's of billions of bucks each and each and every year to end and opposite international warming, only would not make experience!

Answer 6

I have to say that I agree with Chickenbutt above. I have never really understood that expression. It gets down to minus 40 in parts of Canada, Alaska and Russia, etc and there's still snow, so I don't think it can be too cold.

Answer 7

i don't think it can be look at Russia and Antarctica who have lots of snow but sub zero temps excuse the spelling
i think the whole it too cold for snow thing is a myth

Answer 8

As I write this from thunder bay canada
it is 39 beeleeelow 0.
windchill factor is -45.
This is tooooo cold!
I need a hug!

Answer 9

That's just a bit of rubbish people who are trying to be knowledgable spout - old wife's tale. Look at North/South poles and its pretty cold there!

Answer 10

Never, I don't know where this daft idea came from. Not from the North or South Poles, or Greenland or Russia, that's for sure