# Why does snow sometimes not settle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 23, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516 "2005-02-23T12:41:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516/1 "2005-02-23T12:41:52Z")

</div>

We had some heavy snow showers in the south west of England, but none of it stuck - the flakes just melted on the ground. Very disappointing!

What conditions have to be in place to ensure the stuff sticks? Is it the type of snow, dry ground, ground temperature or what?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516/2 "2005-02-23T13:58:15Z")

</div>

Mostly ground temperature - if the ground is cold enough, the snow will stick. Want me to send you a box?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516/3 "2005-02-23T18:45:58Z")

</div>

That would be good. I can have snowball fights and be the envy of the neighbourhood children. 🙂

Thanks for the info, too - I had often wondered.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2005, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-snow-sometimes-not-settle/291516/4 "2005-02-23T22:23:32Z")

</div>

Are you thinking of the first snow of the year? Because if there is snow fall long after a snow storm or the like, then the snow might not settle because of hardened snow, ice, and other conditions.