# Why does snow pack better in warmer weather? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 27, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821 "2011-02-27T18:24:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/1 "2011-02-27T18:24:10Z")
Question is in the title. In warmer weather - say, 30-45 degrees Fahrenheit, snow packs better than in, say, 10 degree weather. Why is that? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/2 "2011-02-27T18:35:38Z")
Moisture content. Compare packing dry and wet sand. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/3 "2011-02-27T18:45:04Z")
some of the snow has been transformed into liquid water, which is sticky compared to the dry snow crystals. the water content is the same, the form it is in has changed in proportion. also the snow crystals are weaker and can be broken to pack tighter. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/4 "2011-02-27T18:55:44Z")
Hydrogen bonds, if I’m not mistaken. ---
**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/5 "2011-02-27T19:13:29Z")
Whoa…the first three guys to respond are all named “John.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/6 "2011-02-27T20:25:24Z")
Snow packs by melting slightly and refreezing. When it’s too cold, the melting slightly step is more difficult. And John is my middle name, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/7 "2011-02-28T03:26:57Z")
> [@CheeseDonkey](#): > > Whoa…the first three guys to respond are all named “John.” And they posted 10 minutes apart. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Heyoka13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Heyoka13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heyoka13)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/8 "2011-02-28T03:36:05Z")
I expected some response here to discuss quantum mechanics . . . ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/9 "2011-02-28T04:30:19Z")
It is as simple as Chronos says, melting and refreezing. I recently disappointed my 3 year old grandson by failing to be able to build the promised snow man. The snow wasn’t wet enough. Oh, my father’s name was John. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/10 "2011-02-28T06:42:22Z")
I think it has something to do with water melting and refreezing. And my name is John. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/11 "2011-02-28T14:44:10Z")
Yeah, it’s wetter and stickier when it gets warm. My eldest son and my father-in-law are both named John, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/12 "2011-02-28T15:52:22Z")
Bigboote? Is that you? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-pack-better-in-warmer-weather/572821/13 "2011-02-28T16:55:45Z")
That’s -tay! TAY!