Home / Editor's Pick /

Did you know? Seven facts about snow

01:00 PM
December 31, 2023

Did you know?
Seven facts about snow

Mount RainierMount Rainer is visible from Seattle. - © Daniel Schwen, Wikipedia

From myth busters on Earth to findings on Mars, here are seven facts you may not know about snow.

1. The snowiest place in the U.S.

It will be no surprise to anyone, but the snowiest places sits on a mountain — technically a volcano. Washington's Mount Rainier averages 645.5 inches of snow per year. Rainier is about 59 miles south-southeast Seattle and is visible from the Emerald City on clear day.

2. Deepest snow?

The deepest snow ever recorded in the U.S. was in Tamarack, Calif., in 1911. The snow depth was 451 inches or 37.5 feet. This is located in the Sierra Nevada.

3. Snow isn't white

It's actually totally clear! Although snowflakes appear white, ice is translucent, meaning light only passes through indirectly, so diffuse reflection through the many sides of the ice crystals causes it to seem white in color.

4. How fast?

Snow falls at an average speed of 1 to 4 mph, taking around an hour to reach the ground. If any snowflakes become supercooled, and heavier, they can fall a little faster than your regular snowflake.

5. It's never too cold to snow!

It can never be too cold, but it can be too dry!

6. Snow on Mars

According to NASA, during the summer in the north of the planet there could be violent snow storms. With clouds and subsurface ice detected on Mars, snow is certainly plausible.

Scientists also found a cloud of carbon dioxide snowflakes over the southern pole of Mars.

7. Dust must be present

The cold water droplet needs to have dust or pollen particles to freeze onto in the sky to create an ice crystal.

Weather & Radar USA editorial team
More on the topic
Weather radar with dust plumes and webcam view of Mallorca with milky skies.
Saturday, August 30, 2025

Sky coloured orange

Saharan dust over Spain
First frosts can begin in September as autumn temps move in.
Sunday, September 21, 2025

Meteorological autumn

The average first frosts in the U.S.
Warm 2025 autumn equinox
Monday, September 22, 2025

Autumn Equinox

Fall is officially here!
All weather news
This might also interest you
Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Six homes damaged

Autumn Tornado in central France
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Daily briefing

Isolated severe storms, mountain snow
Thursday, October 16, 2025

Daily briefing

Autumn storm impacts northern tier
All articles
Weather & Radar

www.weatherandradar.com

instagramfacebookthreadsContact uslinkList
Privacy policy | Legal info | Accessibility statement