23 Snow Facts For Kids

1. Snow is ice crystals (snowflakes) that formed in the atmosphere from evaporated water (water vapor).
2. Snow (precipitation) is one of the primary processes of the water cycle (hydrologic cycle).
3. Without snow and other types of precipitation we wouldn’t have fresh water sources or be able to replenish those sources.
4. Snow is usually created in cirrus, cumulus, and stratus clouds, including their variants such as Cumulonimbus.
5. Snow can only be created if the air temperature is below freezing (32 °F), otherwise it will rain.
6. Snowflakes can be very beautiful and have complex shapes and designs.
7. Due to the nature and complexity of snowflakes it’s believed that no two snowflakes ever appear the same.
8. Many people think snow and snowflakes are white, when in fact they are clear and only appear white because of the light reflecting off them.
9. The amount of snow a geographical area receives depends on its climate. There are five different climate types: tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar.
10. If you live in a geographical area that is a polar, continental, or temperate climate you’re going to get snow.
11. Snow typically develops during the months between October and April, but can occur outside this period.
12. Accumulation is the measurement of snow that has fallen and sticks to the ground from one or more snowstorms.
13. A snow flurry is a light snow that results in little to no accumulation on the ground.
14. A snow shower is a strong, but short lived snowstorm that will create some accumulation on the ground.
15. A snowstorm is powerful, long lived snowstorm that will create a decent amount of accumulation on the ground.
16. A blizzard is an extreme snowstorm that will create a large amount of accumulation on the ground.
17. Snow can create dangerous travel conditions, especially during a snowstorm or blizzard. Snow and ice make it harder for your car tires to get traction and braking will be more difficult. Many auto accidents happen during and right after a snowstorm or blizzard.
18. The reflective ability of snow can also be hazardous to humans. People skiing in the mountains can get bad sunburn due to snows ability to reflect ultraviolet radiation. This same reflective ability can also cause a condition known as snow blindness, which is caused by your cornea in your eye getting sun burned.
19. Snow is the source for many different outdoor recreational activities, including but not limited to igloo building, skiing, sledding, snowball fights, snowboarding and snowman building.
20. The record for the highest snowfall in 24 hours was 7.55 feet at Mount Ibuki, Japan, Asia on February 14th, 1927.
21. The record for the highest snowfall in a single month was 32.5 feet in Tamarack, California, USA in January 1911.
22. The record for the highest snowfall in a single season was 95 feet at Mount Baker, Washington, USA in 1998-99.
23. The record for the highest snowfall in a calendar year was 102 feet at Mount Rainer, Washington, USA in 1971-72.

Snow Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on snow. Below are six pictures of people in snow and snowy conditions. These pictures should help you better understand the way snow works and how we interact with it.

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