For many people, summer means sunshine, warm weather, and no snow. However, while uncommon, it is possible for snow to fall even during the warmest months of the year. In this article, we’ll explore how and where summer snow occurs, some recent examples, and why you might even want to experience it for yourself!
How Can It Snow In Summer?
Snow requires two things – cold air and moisture. In summer, the atmosphere provides plenty of moisture, but obtaining cold air is trickier. For summer snow to occur, a few key ingredients are needed:
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High Elevation – The higher up you go, the colder it gets Many summer snow events happen in mountainous areas above 5000 feet or more
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Storms and Cool Air – Summertime storms can drag down cool air from Canada and combine it with all that moisture to produce snow even when the ground is warm.
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Melting Snowpack – Some mountain peaks maintain significant snowpack year-round. Summer storms add to it preventing earlier melt.
So while unusual, with the right conditions, locations at high elevation can see legitimate snow accumulation – not just flurries – even in July or August.
Where Does It Snow In Summer?
Here are some of the most likely places in the United States to see summer snow:
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Pacific Northwest – The Cascade Mountains in Washington and Oregon have several peaks above 10,000 feet that collect snow all year. Mt. Rainier and Mt. Hood frequently see summer storms.
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Rocky Mountains – The high elevations make Colorado’s peaks prime for summer snow. Arapaho Basin ski resort often stays open into June or July.
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Sierra Nevada – The tallest mountain in the lower 48, Mt. Whitney in California, regularly gets summer snow. As does the rest of the Sierra range.
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Alaska – From mountain peaks to glaciers, much of Alaska maintains year-round snow. Summer visitors can enjoy activities like skiing.
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Northeast – A few areas like Vermont’s Mt. Mansfield and New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington see occasional summer snow events after storms.
Recent Examples of Summer Snowfalls
To prove summer snow does happen, here are some recent snowy events from the hottest months:
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July 2022 – An unusual cold front brought snow to mountains in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming in mid-July. Several inches accumulated at elevations above 9000 feet.
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August 2020 – An August cold front combined with tropical moisture from Hurricane Elida to drop 9 inches of snow on Sunshine Peak in Colorado.
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July 2019 – Mt. Washington, New Hampshire was coated in snow on July 23rd after a low pressure system brought wintry conditions.
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June 2018 – Up to 24 inches of June snow buried the Glacier National Park region of Montana thanks to cool, wet weather.
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August 2017 – During an eclipse viewing event, 2 inches of snow fell unexpectedly on visitors in the Oregon mountains.
Why Experience Summer Snow?
If you think snow is only fun in winter, think again! Summertime snowfalls present unique opportunities you won’t find any other time:
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Cool Down from Summer Heat – When temperatures are sweltering elsewhere, head to the mountains for a refreshing chill.
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Unique Skiing & Snowboarding – Hit the slopes in swimwear or even your birthday suit! Several resorts offer summer sessions.
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Accessible Hiking Trails – Trails buried in snow much of the year open up for hiking and scenic vistas.
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Gorgeous Mountain Wildflowers – See colorful mountain flowers and snowy peaks together in stunning contrast.
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Rejuvenated Streams & Waterfalls – Snowmelt feeds waterfalls and rivers for nice summer rafting or fishing.
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Photography Potential – Capture amazing images of summertime snow against vibrant green valleys.
Be Prepared For Summer Snow Fun
While unusual, snow in summer happens more often than you might think and gives you a chance to have a cool experience during hot weather. Just make sure to take proper precautions, including:
- Check mountain weather reports and avalanche risks before heading out
- Bring cold weather clothing – the wind and wet can make summer snow dangerously cold
- Have proper footwear, traction devices, hiking poles, etc.
- Tell someone your plans and schedule check-ins for backcountry trips
- Know when to turn back if conditions deteriorate or become dangerous
With the right preparation and precautions for the conditions, you can safely enjoy the wonder, beauty and adventure of snow in the middle of summer! Doesn’t a snowball fight on a sunny July day sound refreshing?
How much water is in snow?
There is a lot of air around each of the frozen water crystals in snow, so most of the volume of a snow layer is air. The snow water equivalent of snow is the amount of water that would be formed when a certain amount of snow melts. An often-repeated assumption claims a ten-to-one ratio of snow to water, but that is not always accurate. The water equivalent of snow is more variable than most people realize. For instance, 25 centimeters (10 inches) of fresh snow can contain as little as 0. 25 centimeters (0. 10 inches of water and up to 4 inches of water, depending on the structure of the crystals, the speed of the wind, the temperature, and other factors. The majority of new snowfall in the United States contains a water-to-snow ratio of between 0. 04 (4 percent) and 0. 10 (10 percent), depending on the meteorological conditions associated with the snowfall.
Types of snow crystals
- In a small valley in southwestern Idaho, hoar frost turns into flower blooms. It was -12°C (10°F) at night and only -7°C (20°F) during the day for weeks, which is when these rose-petal crystals formed. Ken Madlen took the picture. A lot of rime has formed because air moisture has been falling on the grass nonstop for several long, cold nights that were too dry to make rain. Records-high drought in the European Alps in December 2016 meant that cold, shady places didn’t get snow, but rime frost. Imaggeo/Daniela Domeisen Snowflakes are single ice crystals or groups of ice crystals that fall from the sky.
- When the surface temperature is lower than the frost point of the air around it, ice crystals form on it. This is called hoarfrost. Moisture skips the liquid phase and goes straight from vapor to solid in this process. Most of the time, hoar frost is made up of ice crystals that fit together tightly. It forms on small, open surfaces like wires, poles, tree branches, plant stems, and the edges of leaves.
- Rime frost happens when droplets that are supercooled freeze and stick to a surface that is exposed to the air. When the winds are calm, the water usually comes from freezing fog or mist droplets that go straight from being liquid to solid.
- Graupel is made up of snowflakes that turn into round, clear pellets that are 2 to 5 millimeters (0. 1 to 0. 2 inches) in diameter. They are made when ice crystals fall through cloud droplets that are below freezing but still liquid. The cloud droplets then stick to the crystals and freeze, making a lumpy mass. Graupel is sometimes mistaken for hail, but it is softer and crumblier. Graupel is sometimes also called snow pellets.
- Polycrystals are snowflakes composed of many individual ice crystals.
- A blizzard is a severe winter storm that lasts at least three hours and has temperatures below zero, strong winds, and blowing snow that makes it impossible to see. 40 kilometers (0. 25 miles).
- A snowstorm features large amounts of snowfall.
- A snow flurry is a short burst of varyingly heavy snow. Flurries usually don’t cause much snow to accumulate.
- A snow squall is a short but heavy snowfall that makes it very hard to see and is often accompanied by strong winds.
- A snowburst is a very heavy shower of snow that usually only lasts a short time but makes it hard to see and causes snow to fall quickly.
- Drifting snow is snow that is on the ground and is blown more than 2 5 meters (8 feet) above the surface. Once it rises above that height, it becomes blowing snow.
- When wind lifts snowflakes into the air, they reach heights of two to three meters above the ground. This is called “blowing snow.” More than 8 feet (5 meters) away; it’s usually very hard to see horizontally at eye level.
Facts about Snow In Summer
FAQ
Does it ever snow in summer?
Can it snow when it is hot?
Has it ever snowed in June in Ohio?
Has it ever snowed in August in the USA?