Buzz
Written by Kenny Hemphill
We’ve all encountered someone who, when asked whether they think it will snow on a particularly frigid day, inhales sharply through their teeth and insists, 'It’s probably too cold for snow today.'
Too cold for snow? That sounds like nonsense – and that's exactly what it is. As stated by the National Snow & Ice Data Center (NSIDC), 'While it can be too warm for snow, it cannot be too cold for snow. Snow can form even at extremely low temperatures, as long as there’s some moisture and a way to lift or cool the air.'
There is a small grain of truth in this myth: extremely cold temperatures are often linked with dry air, which prevents snow from forming. However, it’s the lack of moisture, not the temperature, that stops the snow.
'Most significant snowfalls occur when warmer air is near the surface—usually around -9°C (15°F) or higher,' explains the NSIDC on its website, 'because warmer air can retain more water vapor.'
But that’s certainly not the only weather-related myth people believe.
For example, there’s the old saying that lightning never strikes twice. In reality, the opposite is true. Lightning can and does strike more than once: The Empire State Building, for instance, is hit nearly 100 times annually. Some people have been struck multiple times. Roy Sullivan, a former ranger at Shenandoah National Park, known as 'Spark Ranger,' was struck by lightning seven times before his death in 1983 (from a gunshot wound). If the conditions that make lightning more likely continue, it will likely strike again.
For more weather myths that are commonly misunderstood, take a look at our video below.
