Too Cold For Snow???

[jd_1984]

You hear this expression a lot, it was -6 this morning and a friendly elderly chap quoted that exact sentence. Who knows the science behind this statement - if true in the first place??

[bednobs]

it warms up when you get clouds (warmer than icy clear)

[Handbaglady]

If it's too cold for snow, how come Siberia, Alaska and the North and South Pole have snow?

[Count-A-Strong]

Rubbish.

[ChuckFickens]

The colder the air the less water vapour it is able to hold, less water vapour equals less chance of snow.

[tigerlelly]

I lived in Alaska for 8 years - believe me. it was never too cold to snow!

[mike11111]

Probably because the absence of clouds makes it colder as there is nothing to contain the heat rising from the earth. If there are no clouds you can't have snow (or rain).

[Count-A-Strong]

Isn't antartica the driest place on earth? Classed as a desert which supports Chucks postulation (not that i would ever question chucks wisdom!)

[tiggerblue10]

It is true. If the temperature goes below a certain degree the snow will freeze and become ice making it very slippery.

[seadogg]

It depends on other factors. Cold still air is dense as well as dry and precipitation usually results from rising air, but the cold air you feel at the earth's surface may have warmer air above it in which condensation is taking place.This could lead to snow hail sleet or rain according to the temperature of the air beneath. Like all generalisations about meteorology it contains a germ of truth but is mainly cobblers.