Dave.C wrote:
Well, more scientific than some! It has been snowing more or less
continuously here this morning, often with reasonable intensity, certainly
more than it would seem on the radar, but not settling.
Overnight min was -0.8C and overnight did settle but has been melting during
morning. 2 metre air temp is 1.3C as at 11.30 hrs. I have then taken a soil
reading with an accurate mercury in glass thermometer at 1cm depth.
Temperature was 2.4C.
In my experience most other cold spells of this length would have produced
enough overnight low temperatures for the ground, near to the surface, in
the morning especially, to be colder than the air. Sufficient snow cover,
given the amount of snow I have had, would then have built up, to prevent
further melting. This is evidenced now by deeper patches still remaining.
It's not rocket science, I know, but I am sure this is the biggest factor
why the snow is not settling here rather than SST's too high (6C), too late
in the year, too much solar radiation, air not cold enough and other much
mooted theories.

Dave



Interesting. I noticed that when the snow was cold dry and fluffy, but
settling on ground that hadn't seen a frost for a while, it wouldn't
settle, even when the air temperature was near zero.
But, after a frost (-2c) even wet sloppy snow had no problems settling
at all.

--
Chris
www.ivy-house.net
Swaffham, Norfolk