Buzz
In regions where snow is common, people have become used to seeing large heaps of snow shoved to the edges of parking lots and walkways. Even when the temperature climbs and the sun shines, something strange happens: These piles of snow refuse to melt. They remain, grimy and stubborn, like dirty reminders of unpleasant weather. But why is that?
As explained by Boston.com, these persistent snow heaps resist milder conditions due to a mix of factors. First, there’s the latent heat of fusion, or the energy required to change water from a solid to a liquid. This is distinct from temperature: To melt a massive pile of snow, you need energy (and time), not just warmth, much like how an ice cube won't instantly melt in your hand.
The second reason lies in the thickness of the pile. Snow mounds are typically created by humans, pushed out of the way from traffic and pedestrian paths in ever-increasing volumes. The mound becomes dense and heavy, with the snow on the surface acting as an insulator for the snow beneath. The compacted snow demands more energy—not just a sunny day—to melt away.
In some cases, cities may even resort to hauling snow piles away from busy areas, leaving them to melt in vacant parking lots.
If you're waiting for the unsightly snow to vanish and don’t have access to a dump truck, the best option is to wish for rain, which can break through snowbanks and effectively wash them away. The wetter they get, the less able they are to insulate themselves from melting.
On the bright side, the persistence of snow means your snowman is likely to stay intact a little longer.
