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Oswald Hills

Feb 20, 2025

how cold does it have to be to snow?

please say it in degrees not very cold or just cold

9 Answers

It can snow up to 45-ish. It depends on how warm or cold it is 1000ft above the surface and what the dew point is. The dew point needs to be near or below freezing. All though it will melt on contact it can snow in the mid 40’s.... Show More
OK, a real answer for you. To make snow there has to be water vapor present in the form of clouds. The temperature in this cloud has to be below freezing throughout the could to form snow flakes. (32degrees F, 0 degrees C).If only a portion of the cloud is below freezing, and strong updrafts, hail will form. Surface temp is not a factor for the development of snow, as temperature decreases with altitude, usually about 2 degrees per 1000 feet on avg. this means that snow can form on a warm day, as long at the temps in the clouds are below freezing. The problem is that when the snow falls from a cloud, the temperature all the way to the ground has to be at or below freezing to keep it from melting. There is a phenomena called Virga, and pilots report it all the time, but there is no way to really detect it. Its when snow falls, but melts before hitting the ground, and can even evaporate entirely. Also the colder air gets, the less water vapor it can hold, so really frigid days, the air is very dry, even though it might have a high humidity percentage. (Humidity is the ratio of water vapor air can hold vs, actual water vapor present). So on really really cold days, below 0 degrees F, the chance for snow is unlikely.... Show More
To stick, it would need to be 32 degrees at the ground level. I have seen it snow when the air temperature is a bit warmer (maybe 35 degress), but then it melts because the ground isn’t 32 yet.... Show More
Usually, the temperature has to drop to below freezing and then warm up again for it to snow. It can snow if the temperature gets up to about 4c from freezing, but it doesn’t usually snow if the temperature rises quickly to above 4c. It is a common myth that the colder it gets the more likely it is to snow.... Show More
32 for it to stick to the ground. Up to 34 but it will melt before it hits the ground. As for cold that depends on where you live. If you are in San Diego 34 would be “very cold”. In Chicago or Minesotta 34 would be considered almost “warm” during the winter time.... Show More
tricky situation. try searching on a search engine. that may help!... Show More
32 degrees Fahrenheitin the atmosphere not near the ground! (the most mistake ppl make)... Show More
It has to be freezing out. The freezing point is 32 degees for it to snow. So it has to be at least 32 degrees or under. How do you not know that?... Show More

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