SKI ONE - Snow FAQs

Why does it snow?

Snow forms when moisture in the clouds freezes in to crystals and these crystals stick together. These crystals are actually clear but the reflection of light makes them appear white. Snow normally contains between 5% and 15% water. It was a Vermonter, Wilson Bentley, who first studied snowflakes in the late 1800's. He used a microscope to view them and a camera to record what he saw and record over 80 different types of snowflake.

When is it cold enough to snow in Vermont?

The average low is less than 32 in October, November, December, January, February, March and April in Vermont. For snow to fall it needs to be less than 32 in the atmosphere but for it to stay it needs to be below this temperature on the ground also. (Which is what skiers really care about!)

Can it be too cold to snow?

No, it can't be too cold to snow. However one of the conditions that enables very cool temperatures is an absence of clouds to insulate the earth. So on nights when there is very cold there is likely to be no clouds. Snow comes from clouds, so no clouds means no snow. Given the right cold air systems however it can be very cold and cloudy so it could snow.

What is the difference between a Weather Advisory, a Weather Watch and a Weather warning?

Heavy Snow Warnings are issued when snowfall totaling 7 inches or more in 12 hours and when snowfall totaling 9 inches or more in 24 hours is expected.

Snow Advisories are issued when snowfall is expected to exceed 2 inches but not more than 5 inches.

Winter Storm Warnings are issued when hazardous winter weather is occurring or imminent . Hazardous winter weather includes heavy snow, blizzards, ice storms, freezing rain and sleet.

Winter Weather Advisories are issued for winter weather situations that may cause significant inconvenience and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life threatening situations. They are issued when events are occurring, or highly likely to occur.

The National Weather Service in Burlington issues these warnings.

What do the ski resort snow reports really mean?

Powder is new, unpacked, snow. This is what most skiers dream of!
Packed powder snow is typically newer snow that has been gone over by groomers or skiers. A nice skiing surface.
Hard pack is like packed powder but more so. Very nice to ski on.
Loose Granular is also called " sugar" snow. Often found when it is warmer, it is a slower skiing surface.
Frozen granular is frozen "sugar" snow. Nice groomed in the morning.
Wet packed snow has high moisture content, like mashed potatoes. This is a harder condition to ski in.
Wet Granular is snow that is wet from warm temperatures, rain, or humidity. Slow to ski in.
Spring Conditions are amix of conditions created by sunny or rainy days and above freezing temperatures towards the end of the season. I ski it only because soon there will be no snow.
Corn is large, loose snow crystals (about the size of corn), frozen at night, loose during the day. Not terribly nice skiing.
Ice is a hard and slippery, glazed or see-through surface, bulletproof. Better for skating on than skiing. Few ski resorts will admit to having icy conditions but most do have it so you just need to find their euphemism for it.
Variable Conditions indicates that a variety of surfaces can be found around the mountain but no one condition predominates.
Wet Snow used to be powder but it has become moist and heavy due to a thaw, or rainfall, or fell moist. Get out the wax!