What is the temperature of snow?

Question

not when it snows, but the actual temperature of snow as it lays ont he ground?

Answer 1

This is the temperature for snowflakes:
"Snowflakes form below about -10°C (14°F), solidifying around a frozen center droplet. Between temperatures of -1 °C (30 °F) and -3 °C (27 °F), the snowflake will be in the form of a dendrite or a plate. As temperatures get colder, between -5 °C and -10 °C, the crystals will form in either needles or hollow columns. In special circumstances, where the crystal has started forming at around -5 °C, and is then exposed to warmer or colder temperatures, a capped column may be formed which consists of a column-like design capped with a dendrite or plate-like design on each end of the column.[1] At even colder temperatures, the snowflake design returns to the more common dendrite and plate. At temperatures approaching -20 °C, sectored plates are formed which appears as an dendrite, with each dendrite appearing flattened, like the design of a snowflake plate.[1]"

All I can tell you about snow is that is 32 F (0 C) or less otherwise it isn't snow anymore.

Check out the following website for pictures of how snow and rain differ:
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fcst/prcp/rs.rxml

Answer 2

Snowflakes can be found in a variety of temperatures and vary accordingly. They form at -10°C (14°F) around a frozen droplet. Between -1 °C (30 °F) and -3 °C (27 °F), the snowflake is in the form of a plate. As the temperature drops to -5 °C and -10 °C, the crystals form needles. Approaching -20 °C, the snowflakes are flattened into the design of the 'flake we know and love.

When they hit the earth, their temperature changes according to ground temperature, melting if it's above 0°C (32°F).

Let it snow.

Answer 3

Freezing rain and sleet is when the temp is right on the edge of freezing and fluxuates back and forth, and the precip just doesn't know what to do, or when it starts out as snow in the upper atmosphere (colder) and gets warmed by its own movement (friction against the air), or its passage through the warmer atmosphere, or by the stored heat radiated off the earth just before it hits the ground. Precip can be affected by things like windchill, where the droplets are blown colder by the wind and freeze even if the temp says its too warm for snow. Remember 32 F is only a theoretical temp, that is achieved in a lab with controlled circumstances. Real weather is affected by temps, humidity, pressure, wind, other weather systems, ground temps, presence of electricity or ions...and pollution/impurities in the water that would change its chemical properties.

Answer 4

From +32 degrees F (0 C) to any temperature below that. At 33 degrees snow will melt.

Answer 5

0 degrees celcius