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More snow falls just below 0C than in -10C or -20C because air can hold more water vapor the warmer it is. If it's -20C the water from the ground doesn't go in
by ajuc 7y ago
More snow falls just below 0C than in -10C or -20C because air can hold more water vapor the warmer it is.
If it's -20C the water from the ground doesn't go into the air as much and doesn't fall back as a snow.
- chrisco255 7y agoSnow forms in the upper atmosphere at about 15,000 feet before it falls to the ground. Temperatures are always about 25C less there than on the ground. It's not strictly true that cold air holds less water vapor. Water vapor is more likely to condense at cooler temps. The likelihood that water will condense to form rain and snow droplets is impacted by the dew point and the amount of particles in the atmosphere to formulate liquid or ice.
- usr1106 7y agoYes, and it's snow mass. If you do manual snow removal in your yard at 0°C or -5°C you feel a huge difference. And even if the mass is there, it melts earlier.