Types of Winter Precipitation
In winter, one of the hardest things for a weather forecaster to do is to figure out what type of precipitation there will be. In most cases winter storms bring more than just snow. Only in the coldest months in the northernmost reaches of the country is the precipitation usually all snow. Over much of the country, depending on local geography and the flow of just a little warm air, precipitation can vary from snow, sleet, or freezing rain (which causes many more automobile accidents than snow). Sometimes it is hard for forecasters to say exactly what is going to fall from the sky in winter because it’s not just snow.
Other Kinds of Ice
Frank Picini
There is always confusion when it comes to the names of the types of ice falling from the sky. Many people confuse sleet with hail. The difference is easy to remember: sleet in winter and hail in summer. But when it comes to ice and its classifications, not even scientists can agree.
Snow makes up seven of the ten kinds of frozen precipitation in the international classification system. The others are graupel, hail, and ice pellets or sleet. Official weather observers in the United States use the term ice pellets rather than sleet, as sleet is defined differently throughout the world. Here you can see the differences.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce
Wind Chill!
Whenever you hear the words “wind chill,” it’s because the cold winds are cranking outside. Wind chill is actually how skin feels when exposed to bitter winter winds. Updated in 2001 by the National Weather Service, the Wind Chill Temperature Index uses science, technology, and computer modeling to derive the Wind Chill Chart, which lets you know how it really feels outside.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce
The chart is based on the model of a human face, with wind blowing at an average height of 5 feet (the average height of an adult human face) and measures temperature against wind speed. Wind chill is computed using modern heat transfer theory (heat loss from the body to its surroundings during cold and breezy or windy days). Impact from the sun is not factored in as that may increase wind-chill temperatures by 10° to 18°F (-12° to -8°C). Wind chill can only be figured for temperatures at or below 50°F (10°C) and wind speeds above 3 mph.
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Oh My, I Can’t Feel My Fingers!
Coldest Temperatures Recorded in Each State
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You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me—Antarctica!
You want to talk about extremes, Antarctica is the land of extremes! It is the coldest, windiest, and highest continent anywhere on Earth! The lowest temperature ever recorded on the planet was -128.6ºF (-89.2°C), was measured at the Russian research station of Vostok, near the South Pole, at an elevation of 11,220 feet. That’s the same height as the Wasatch Mountains in Utah.
United States Antarctic Program, National Science Foundation; Photographer: Jerrod Clausen
Bill Adler; used by permission.
Bill Adler; used by permission.
Antarctica has an average elevation of 7,544 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level. Even though it is covered in ice, it receives almost the least amount of rainfall of any place in the world, getting just slightly more rainfall than the Sahara Desert. Despite the snow and ice, Antarctica is the largest desert on Earth.
On July 4, 2003, a remote-recording weather station located on Queen Maud Land in eastern Antarctica reported an air temperature of -94°F (-70°C) and a wind speed of 75 mph. The resulting wind chill of -150°F (-101°C) is perhaps the coldest ever recorded anywhere. It’s difficult to even imagine how a human could endure such extreme conditions!
Bill Adler; used by permission.
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How Low Can It Go?
Antarctica
Antarctica
-128.6°F (-89.2°C)
Vostok
coldest official temperature in the world, on July 21, 1983
The Arctic
Greenland
-86.8°F (-66°C)
Northice
North Pole
-59°F (-51°C)
North Pole
Asia
Russia
-90°F (-68°C)
Verkhoyansk
Mongolia
-72°F (-58°C)
Uvs Lake
Afghanistan
-64°F (-53°C)
Sharak
China
-62.1°F (-52.3°C)
Mohe
Turkey
-50°F (-46°C)
Karakose
Korea
-46°F (-43°C)
Chungangjin, N. Korea
Japan
-42°F (-41°C)
Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Iran
-33°F (-36°C)
Bijar and Saqquz
India
-24°F (-31°C)
Leh
Lebanon
-9°F (-23°C)
Yammoune
Pakistan
-8°F (-22°C)
Sakardu
Taiwan
-1°F (-18°C)
Yushan North Peak
Iraq
0°F (-18°C)
Mossul
Syria
4°F (-16°C)
Al Qamishi
Israel
6°F (-14°C)
Mount Avital
Jordan
7°F (-14°C)
Shoubak
Saudi Arabia
12°F (-11°C)
Turuyfa
Burma
21°F (-6°C)
Haka
Kuwait
21°F (-6°C)
Kuwait City
Sri Lanka
25°F (-4°C)
Nuwara Eliya
Laos
26°F (-3°C)
Xiang Khoang
Thailand
28°F (-2°C)
Doi Inthanon
Vietnam
28°F (-2°C)
Muong Bu
Hong Kong
32°F (0°C)
Victoria Peak
Oman
32°F (0°C)
Hibra
Yemen
32°F (0°C)
Sanaa
Bangladesh
33°F (1°C)
Jalpaiguri
Indonesia
34°F (1°C)
Mount Pangrango
Qatar
34°F (1°C)
Doha
Malaysia
36°F (2°C)
Cameron Highlands
Bahrain
37°F (3°C)
Manama
United Arab Emirates
37°F (3°C)
Sharjah
Philippines
37.5°F (3.1°C)
Baguio
Cambodia
46°F (8°C)
Val d’Emeraude
Maldives
64°F (18°C)
Male
Brunei
65°F (18°C)
Bandar Seri Bagawan
Singapore
65°F (18°C)
Paya Lebar
North America
Canada
-81.4°F (-63°C)
Snag, Yukon
United States
-79.8°F (-62°C)
Prospect Creek, AK
Mexico
-18.5°F (-28°C)
Los Lamentos
Cuba
32°F (0°C)
Havana Airport
Europe
Russia
-68.8°F (-56°C)
Pechora
Sweden
-63°F (-53°C)
Vuoggatjalme
Norway
-62°F (-52°C)
Karasjok
Finland
-61°F (-52°C)
Kittilä and Pokka
Armenia
-51°F (-41°C)
Paghakn
Estonia
-46°F (-43°C)
Jõgeva
Latvia
-46°F (-43°C)
Daugavpils
Yugoslavia (former)
-45°F (-43°C)
Igman, Bosnia Herzegovina
Czech Republic
-44°F (-42°C)
Litvínovice
Switzerland
-43.2°F (-41.7°C)
La Brevine
Poland
-42°F (-41°C)
Siedlce
Slovakia
-42°F (-41°C)
Viglas-Pstrusa
France
-41.5°F (-40.8°C)
Mouthe
Bulgaria
-38°F (-39°C)
Trun
Romania
-37°F (-38°C)
Bod
Iceland
-36.4°F (-38°C)
Grimsstadir and Modrudalur
Germany
-36°F (-37°C)
Hull
Italy
-36°F (-37°C)
Livigno
Austria
-35°F (-37°C)
Sonnblick
Hungary
-31°F (-35°C)
Gorombolytapolca
Spain
-28°F (-33°C)
Estany Gento
Denmark
-24.2°F (-31.2°C)
Horsted
Belgium
-22.2°F (-30.1°C)
Rochefort
Greece
-18°F (-28°C)
Ptolemaida
Great Britain
-17°F (-27°C)
Braemer and Altnaharra
Netherlands
-17°F (-27°C)
Winterswijk
Albania
-16°F (-27°C)
Sheqeras
Luxembourg
-12°F (-24°C)
Wiltz and Clemency
Ireland
-2°F (-19°C)
Markree Castle
Portugal
3°F (-16°C)
Penhas da Sude
Holy See
19°F (-7°C)
Vatican City
Cyprus
21°F (-6°C)
Nicosia
Azores
37°F (2.8°C)
Santa Cruz
South and Central America
Argentina
-38°F (-39°C)
Pato Superior V alley
Chile
-26°F (-32°C)
Ollague
Bolivia
-15°F (-26°C)
Uyuni
Peru
-13°F (-25°C)
Imata
Brazil
7°F (-14°C)
Cacador
Guatemala
12°F (-11°C)
Labor Ovalle
Uruguay
12°F (-11°C)
Melo
Costa Rica
16°F (-9°C)
Mount Chirripo
Ecuador
17°F (-8°C)
Romerillos
Paraguay
19°F (-7°C)
Prats Gill
Venezuela
19°F (-7°C)
El Aguila Peak
Colombia
20°F (-7°C)
Bogotá
Honduras
31°F (-0.5°C)
La Esperanza
Panama
36°F (2°C)
Bajo Grande
El Salvador
45°F (7°C)
San Salvadore
Belize
52°F (11°C)
Belize City
French Guiana
54°F (12°C)
Saul
Guyana
60°F (16°C)
Mazaruni
Suriname
60°F (16°C)
Paramaribo
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce
* * *
Who Gets the Most Snow in the United States?
STATE
SNOWFALL IN INCHES
LOCATION
Alabama
5.3
Valley Head
Alaska
551.5
Thompson Pass
Arizona
243.0
Sunrise Mountain
Arkansas
16.2
Gravette
California
470.7
Soda Springs
Colorado
435.6
Wolf Creek Pass
Connecticut
106.8
Norfolk
Delaware
19.6
Wilmington
Florida
0.4
Milton Experiment Station
Georgia
6.6
Clayton
Hawaii
0
(Sorry!)
Idaho
283.5
Mullan Pass
Illinois
47.7
Antioch
Indiana
South Bend
Iowa
43.8
Dubuque
Kansas
46.0
McDonald
Kentucky
46.4
Benham
Louisiana
1.9
Plain Dealing
Maine
118.5
Phillips
Maryland
95.9
Oakland
Massachusetts
85.0
West Cummington
Michigan
235.8
Herman
Minnesota
108.5
Pigeon River Bridge
Mississippi
4.9
Cleveland
Missouri
25.5
Bethany
Montana
305.5
Kings Hill
Nebraska
62.2
Harrison
Nevada
241.0
Marlette Lake
New Hampshire
315.4
Mount Washington
New Jersey
39.8
Sussex
New Mexico
164.9
Red River
New York
226.7
Old Forge
North Carolina
57.8
Grandfather Mountain
North Dakota
56.5
Bowman
Ohio
97.0
Chardon
Oklahoma
31.6
Boise City
Oregon
529.9
Crater Lake
Pennsylvania
121.6
Corry
Rhode Island
55.5
North Foster
South Carolina
8.7
Caesars Head
South Dakota
193.0
Lead
Tennessee
55.5
North Forester
Texas
23.9
Borger
Utah
516.3
Alta
Vermont
222.0
Mount Mansfield
Virginia
51.8
Burkes Garden
Washington
680.0
Rainier Paradise Ranger Station
West Virginia
157.8
Terra Alta
Wisconsin
138.7
Gurney
Wyoming
285.0
Belcher Ranger Station
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* * *
How High Can It Climb?—Snowfall Records
SNOWFALL IN INCHES
LOCATION
POPULATION
203.4
Truckee, CA
13,800
179.8
Marquette, MI (airport)