Know Your Snow
Has it snowed yet where you live? The city with the most snow per year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is Syracuse, New York. On average, it snows 123.8 inches there each year! By contrast, many cities in Florida and California never see snow. The Mini Page learned a little more about our wintry precipitation.
The cold season
It may have been cold for several weeks, but winter officially began on Dec. 21, when we experienced the winter solstice. This is the day each year when we have the shortest period of daylight and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere.
Making snow
In order for snow to form, three things must happen in our atmosphere: 1. Temperatures must drop to freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) or below both in the clouds and near the ground. 2. Moisture must gather to make snow, sleet or rain. This wetness might come from the ocean or a large lake. For example, cold air from Canada blows across the Great Lakes, picking up a lot of moisture that turns into snow. 3. The moist air has to rise. When warm air meets cold air, the warm air is forced up, where it cools. Mountains can also force air to rise.
The pros and cons of snow
Snow is beautiful and fun to play in. Farmers love it because it can act as a blanket and keep crops from freezing. Snow is also an important source of water for plants, animals and people. When snow melts, especially high in the mountains, it runs down rivers and waterfalls to fill reservoirs. But snow also causes problems for people. It can trap people indoors if they are unable to walk or drive in snowy conditions. It slows down traffic and can cause accidents. And communities spend a lot of money on snow removal. Workers spread salt and sand on the roadways and use dump trucks to haul big loads of snow away.
Take care in the cold
Frostbite occurs when areas of a person’s skin become so cold they freeze. You can’t feel frostbite, so watch out for it. Check your fingers, toes, cheeks, ears and nose for loss of feeling and a whitish look. If you do get frostbite, it’s important to warm the area as soon as possible. Warm your face by covering it with warm hands. Warm fingers by putting them under arms next to skin. Wrap feet in a blanket. When an area on a person’s skin is frostbitten, do not: • apply direct heat. • rub the area. • exercise the area. If the area doesn’t return to normal color and is painful, see a doctor. These tips will help you stay warm and safe when playing or working outdoors: • Wear layers of clothing with a waterproof garment on the outside. Wear a hood or scarf that covers your mouth so you breathe warm air. • If your clothes get wet, change them as soon as possible. Heat is lost quickly through wet clothes. • Don’t forget your pets! Make sure outdoor pets have a warm place to be out of the snow. A shelter with lots of straw will help them stay warm. Check that water bowls are not frozen over.