Dear Tom,
Can it ever be too cold to snow?
Ken from Aurora,
Andrea Fitzsimmons, Chicago
Linda Murphy, Tinley Park
Dear Ken, Andrea and Linda,
Over the years we have been asked this question more than any other.
No, it can never be too cold to snow. All that is necessary for snow to occur is the presence of water vapor in the air, and no matter how low the temperature there is always some present. What is true, however, is the fact that when the air is bitterly cold, only small amounts of snow can fall because of the miniscule amounts of water vapor in the atmosphere. Snow, usually just a few tenths of an inch, has been reported in Antarctica with readings as low as 60 to 70 degrees below zero. Chicago has also received snow in below zero conditions. Nearly an inch fell here on the evening of January 10, 1982 while the mercury hovered at frigid -15(degrees).
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Tom Skilling is chief meteorologist at WGN-TV. His forecasts can be seen Monday through Friday on WGN-TV News at noon and 9 p.m.
Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or asktomwhy@wgntv.com (Mail volume precludes personal response.)
WGN-TV meteorologists Steve Kahn, Richard Koeneman and Paul Dailey plus weather producer Bill Snyder contribute to this page.
