In article ,
David Gartrell writes:
Hi everyone,

I've got a question about snow which i'm hoping you guys can answer for me.

Why is it that if its 2C in october or november if will quite often rain
instead of snow and yet come April it can be 7 or 8C and snow quite
readily. I'm guessing it has to do with the temperature of the surrounding
seas but i may be wrong.


The sun is stronger in April than in October or November, so the ground
- and from there the lowest part of the atmosphere - is quickly warmed
up. So though the temperature at the surface is 7 or 8C, the freezing
level (or more correctly the melting level) may be not very high up (and
will descend further in a heavy shower), so the snow doesn't have time
to melt before reaching the ground.
--
John Hall
"If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts;
but if he will be content to begin with doubts,
he shall end in certainties." Francis Bacon (1561-1626)