What is Snow?

How snow is formed?

• Snow is formed from water vapors in the cold clouds that have condensed into ice crystals.
• Ice crystals fasten onto a dust speck. One crystal attaches to another forming a snowflake. Once the snowflake is heavy enough, it falls from the cloud.
• A snowflake is either a single ice crystal or many crystals.
• The size of a snowflake is determined by how many ice crystals join together.
• The tops of clouds must be below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0 degrees Celsius in order for snowfall to occur.
• Snow can fall from any layered cloud that is cold enough.

Snow’s effect on the ground:

· Snow accumulated on the ground helps keep bulbs and plant roots (beneath the ground) from freezing in frigid weather.

• As soft snowflakes pile on top of one another, pockets of air are left between them. This air helps protect seeds, bulbs and roots from freezing beneath the soil in winter.
• In spring when the snow begins to melt, some snow soaks into the earth to water the soil, while other melted snow replenishes streams, lakes and rivers.

Snow trivia:

• The snow capital of the United States is Stampede Pass, Washington. Each year it has an average snowfall of 430″.
• The largest snowflake recorded fell in 1887 in Montana. It was 15” in diameter.
• Every snowflake has six sides or points, yet no two snowflakes are ever the same in design.