Does Snow Melt When It Rains?
Understanding what makes for good skiing conditions is a really important tool for planning a trip out on the ski slopes. Not much point in heading to your nearest ski resort only to find it's rained and the snow isn't what you hoped, right? So does snow melt when it's raining?
Yes - rain causes an increase the how much energy can be transferred to the snow, causing it to melt at a faster rate. Under the right conditions, inches of snow can be completely melted in a few days.Â
We are reader supported. We may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
The rate at which snow melts is determined by a number of factors. These include humidity, sun intensity, and angle, air temperature, and indeed the quantity & temperature of the rain.
What Causes Snow to Melt?
Interestingly enough, the same things that cause snow to form are the same things that cause snow to melt.
These are temperature, pressure, and humidity. Pressure plays the lowest role in the melting of snow, but it is very closely linked to temperature and humidity.
As temperature and humidity go up, there is more energy available in the air to assist in changing solid water (snow) back into its natural state being liquid water.
The intensity of sunlight, as well as its angle, also plays a large role in how quickly snow will melt.
What Happens to Snow When It Rains?
Rain has an interesting effect on snow because of the unique properties of water as a solid. Unlike almost every other substance imaginable, water is denser in its liquid form than it is as solid ice.
This is because there are a lot of small air pockets in the structure of ice. If you think of the shape of a snowflake, think about how many different little branches and arms there typically are.
All of these catch air in pockets when snowflakes stack on one another. Because air is a pretty good insulator, these air pockets mean almost all of the snow is protected from surrounding factors like sunlight and warm air temperature.
When it rains, these air pockets are filled. As this air pockets close because of the rain, these other melting factors like temperature and sunlight are able to penetrate deeper and melt more snow.
How Long Does Snow Take to Melt?
Again, the speed at which snow melts is influenced by a number of important factors. Somewhat obviously, the amount of snow also determines just how long it will take to fully melt. Larger amounts can take multiple days or even weeks.Â
Under the right conditions, a day’s worth of moderate snow can melt away completely within 24 hours.
While it is hard to pin down exact rate snow will melt, the general rule is that half an inch of snow will melt per day in 40 °F. This is bumped up to 2 to 4 inches per day at 50 °F.
In metric, this means about 1.25 centimeters are lost in temperatures close to 4.5 °C, and 5 to 10 centimeters per day at 10 °C.
This can vary heavily though, as different locations have different properties. In some places, you could expect a slower rate of melt, closer to 2 to 4 inches over the course of two to three days.
4 Types of Precipitation You Might Get
For those who don’t know, precipitation is simply what falls from the sky when certain conditions have been met in the atmosphere. There are far more types of precipitation than most people even realize, so let’s quickly go over them.
- Rain. I’m sure we all know what rain is, but for those who don’t, it is simply liquid water.
- Hail is one of the most dangerous forms of precipitation. It is essentially chunks of ice, varying in size. Hail typically occurs in warmer weather.
- Snow. The thing all skiers love. Snow occurs when the temperature in the atmosphere is below freezing. The quality of snow is determined by humidity, wind, and temperature.
- Sleet and freezing rain. There are differences between sleet and rain, but we won’t go into those. These are essentially rain that is near freezing and is usually a mix of ice and water.
Will it Snow or Rain?
Those of us who are not used to seasonal snow may not understand what conditions might cause snow and what conditions might cause rain. However, this knowledge can be quite useful for those planning to hit the slopes. To figure this out, let’s go to the beginning.
Very high up in the clouds, you will typically find very cold water vapor or ice crystals, if the temperature is low enough. The simplest way to tell if there will likely be snow is if the air temperature is below 0 °C or 32 °F.
That being said, there are quite a few prerequisites that determine if the snow will reach the ground. Humidity and air pressure also play a big role in this, but the temperature is one of the best ways to tell if there will be snow.
If there is too much humidity in the air, the snow will usually change to rain, sleet, or one of the many other forms of precipitation as it falls through the warmer air.
Planning Your Ski Trip
Whenever you are wanting to take a trip to the slopes, planning will save you a lot of headaches and heartbreak. Although recent weather can indicate there should be snow, this is not always the case. There are plenty of factors other than sunshine that could change snow to other forms of precipitation.
After that, even if it does snow, weather like intense heat or even rain could quickly melt the snow. Always check for very hot days or rainy weather in the region you want to ski in when planning your next trip.
Recap - Does Snow Melt When It Snows?Â
Simply put, yes, snow will melt faster when it rains. The warmer the rain and the weaker the structure of the snow the more likely it will be to melt. Soft slushy snow will melt faster than hard-packed snow in the shade.
About Us
Hello, I'm Simon & I love skiing. I started skiing in 2007 and I founded this website to help new skiers learn everything there is to know about skiing. NewToSki.com has grown to be a trusted resource for over a million skiers to plan their ski trips each year and learn more about every aspect of skiing. Be sure to join my email list for the best tips and handpicked deals each week.
Featured In
Subscribe & Follow
