Too cold to snow

Gayle · 08-02-2007, 21:12

They say that it's never too cold to snow (they being everyone except my dad who always insists it's too cold to snow when it gets to -1), so if that's the case why has there been frost on my car every morning for the last three days and then on the first day there's no frost and it feels a fraction warmer - it snows!

So, is my dad right, can it ever be too cold in England to snow?

Btw - I'm well aware that it's minus 40 in Canada and snowing but I've noticed that in England when it's really cold, there's never cloud cover and you need clouds for snow.

grego · 08-02-2007, 21:22

Yes I think it can be too cold to snow, I haven't the facts to back it up but was always told it had to warm up a bit first.

Sara · 08-02-2007, 21:32

According to a very amature weather forecaster who i work with, the ideal temperture for snow in England is in between 2 degrees above or 2 degrees below 0. In the car this morning it was 1 degree and this evening when driving home it was 0 degree. I have no facts to back this up only what he says. But i suppose he could be right.

WillowTheWhisp · 08-02-2007, 21:53

My Mum and my Gran always used to say it was too cold to snow if it was very cold, and sure enough it never did actually snow until it had warmed up a bit.

West Ender · 08-02-2007, 22:37

In the arctic or the antarctic it's never too cold to snow, though much of it is ice, not snow. This is England, though, and it always warms a little before the snow comes. When it's really cold, not just wind chill, and there's a hard frost the sky is clear. When the snow clouds arrive the "blanket" they create warms the atmosphere slightly.

It's all got connections with the Gulf Stream and prevailing winds and other Geography stuff, most of which I've forgotten.

WillowTheWhisp · 08-02-2007, 22:55

Does it actually snow in these other countries when it's well below freezing or does that just preserve what has already fallen?

SPUGGIE J · 08-02-2007, 23:57

Warm moist Gulf Stream air rising to meet cold Artic air formin crystals that grow and fall. The dandruff stuff is just frozen mist.

shillelagh · 09-02-2007, 00:02

My mum used to say that it was too cold to snow and i've picked it up from her!! She used to say that when there was a frost on the cars - she said when that disappeared then we'd a chance of getting snow! lol

SPUGGIE J · 09-02-2007, 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by shillelagh

My mum used to say that it was too cold to snow and i've picked it up from her!! She used to say that when there was a frost on the cars - she said when that disappeared then we'd a chance of getting snow! lol

She was proberly right. Some of the old adages sayings and words of wisdom are very close if not spot on.

cashman · 09-02-2007, 01:15

beats the hell out of me,this too cold to snow rubbish, it snows like hell at the north n south poles an its a damn site colder than here.

SPUGGIE J · 09-02-2007, 01:32

No need for a freezer though a fridge is still needed.

LancYorkYankee · 09-02-2007, 03:42

I agree it's "usually" ~25 - 34 degrees farenheit when we get snow. I've also heard as well as said that it's too cold to snow. However, there are always varients to "the rules!"

The other night it was down to 15 degrees F and we got 3 inches of snow. Now all I can say is: "It's too cold for a 46 year old man to go out sledding after dark and wipe-out into a rock pile (no matter how fun it seemed at the time!)"

Brian

SPUGGIE J · 09-02-2007, 04:43

Where you on the bevvy at the time???

LancYorkYankee · 09-02-2007, 19:36

Nah Spuggie, I was on the blasted snowboard which instantly turned backward. Not only did I have no control, Couldn't see what was coming up!

Unless bevvy means "been drinking." Nope, not a lick!

Brian

SPUGGIE J · 09-02-2007, 21:42

Yep I meen drinking. Did learn one thing from you though DONT RIDE A SNOW BOARD.