The reason you don't often see snow with cold temperatures is because the cold temperatures are often associated with the subsidence behind a low pressure system - that is where the cold air is typically. However, low pressure systems, which create rising motion ahead of where they are tracking, can and do exist in what you consider to be cold air. For snow, you need rising motion, some moisture, and cold enough temperatures. The amount of moisture that the air can hold is exponentially related to temperature so warmer air has greater potential for higher snow amounts. However, low pressure centers can create a large amount of moisture convergence even with what you would consider to be low temperatures.
Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby View Post
Also when the temperature drops below 0°F for a few days in a row, you'll rarely see snow. In Alaska, it's pretty common to have 0-degree temps this time of year. The fact that it's snowing in record amounts means - it is WARM enough to snow, when normally it would not be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty_Star
"Can it be too cold to snow? It can snow when it’s very cold. As a matter of fact, snow can fall even in the coldest places on Earth, such as Antarctica, where temperatures are well below zero."
-EarthSky.org
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