Home / Editor's Pick /

Did you know? Seven facts about snow

Did you know?
Seven facts about snow

Cairngorm Mountains, Scottish Highlands.Cairngorm Mountains, Scottish Highlands.

From myth busters on Earth to findings on Mars, here are seven facts you may not know about snow.

1. The snowiest place in the UK and Ireland

It will be no surprise to hear that Scotland is the snowiest place in the UK and Ireland, with the Cairngorm Chairlift weather station recording an average of 76.2 days of snow per year.

2. Deepest snow?

The deepest snow ever recorded was near Ruthin, North Wales during the winter of 1946-47. In the March of 1947 1.65m of lying snow was recorded here, thanks to severe drifts.

3. Snow isn't white

It's actually totally clear! Although snowflakes appear white, ice is translucent, meaning light only passes through indirectly, so diffuse reflection through the many sides of the ice crystals causes it to seem white in colour.

4. How fast?

Snow falls at an average speed of 1-4mph, taking around an hour to reach the ground. If any snowflakes become supercooled, and heavier, they can fall a little faster than your regular snowflake.

5. It's never too cold to snow!

It can never be too cold, but it can be too dry!

6. Snow on Mars

According to NASA, during the summer in the north of the planet there could be violent snow storms. With clouds and subsurface ice detected on Mars, snow is certainly plausible.

Scientists also found a cloud of carbon dioxide snowflakes over the southern pole of Mars.

7. Dust must be present

The cold water droplet needs to have dust or pollen particles to freeze onto in the sky to create an ice crystal.

Artificial snow used for winter sportsread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
This might also interest you
Colour-coded wind map of the UK and nearby Europe showing widespread orange-red zones with wind speeds labelled 30–40 mph and a wind warning icon in the northwest.
Wednesday 26 November 2025

Gales on the way

Stormy outlook for Thursday
Split image showing a night-time waterfall beneath sweeping star trails on the left, and a bright double rainbow over a calm lakeside with mountains, pier, and mist on the right.
Sunday 30 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

From rainbow light to starlight
A split image showing a close-up of a full moon on the left, and on the right a UK and Ireland weather map with blue and white patches indicating widespread rain or cloud. Several moon and cloud icons appear over different regions, with temperatures marked mostly between 4°C and 8°C.
Thursday 4 December 2025

Cold Moon rises tonight

Third and final supermoon of the year
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList