Best Conditions for a Snowball Fight

Have you ever wondered why some snow can make snowballs, whereas other times snow just falls apart? The answer is all about the temperature!

There’s a way to calculate the “wetness” of snow. We call this the snow to liquid equivalent. This is simply the amount of liquid left over when we melt snow. So, let’s say we have 10 inches of snow. If we melt this down to liquid form and get 1 inch of liquid water, our snow to liquid equivalent ratio is 10:1. 10:1 is the average snow to liquid ratio.

In order to make awesome snowballs, we need a wet snow. Wet snow is best achieved when temperatures are just below freezing. The snow will stick together due to the high content of liquid in the snow. Generally for a wet snow, look for snow to liquid ratios at or below 10:1.

Dry snow is achieved when there is little to no liquid content in the snowflake. This occurs with temperatures well below freezing because very cold temperatures can’t support much moisture in the atmosphere. This is the type of snow that is not optimal for making snowballs. Generally, snow to liquid ratios greater than 10:1 are considered dry snows.

In summation, when looking for good snow for a snowball fight, be sure to check what the temperature is when the snow is falling. If it is right around 32°, then chances are the snow will pack together nicely. However, if the temperature is less than 25°, don’t get too excited about any snowball fights. In any case, it never hurts to try!