Physics question about snow

rrlund · Jan 6, 2014

Wet snow is heavier than this cold stuff that's blowing around now,correct?
It's supposed to be in the mid to upper 30s by the weekend. Assuming there is no additional precipitation in the form of wet snow or rain between now and then,will the snow load on the roofs increase when the snow that's there now gets wetter because it gets warmer?

Frankmn · Jan 6, 2014

I believe it will as it will take on moisture from the higher relative humidity of the warmer air.

RCP · Jan 6, 2014

Good question, provided there is no snow or rain added, the weight will not change, remember Lavoisier said mass can neither be created or destroyed.

Greg1959 · Jan 6, 2014

Look up "Sublimation".

Bob Bancroft · Jan 6, 2014

I agree with RCP. The issue is if it warms up enough so that you get some snow melting and moving around as liquid. Snow can hold a tremendous amount of water. So the danger, if no more precip. occurs, is the weight collecting and concentrating in one area.

Larry NEIL · Jan 6, 2014

Sure will, but the mass will diminish proportionately.

RandyB(MI) · Jan 6, 2014

I say it will stay same. When you plow snow it is the stickiness that makes it seem heavier and not fly off the blade like dry snow does. Some physics and some hydraulics probably involved here. Probably a little optical illusional also because that foot of fluffy powder looks like it should weigh a ton but doesn't because a lot is air space but by the same token once it warms up over night and till noon next day now it is only 8" and looks like it should only weigh what 8" should weigh but it's actually still a foot made up of 8" snow and whatever water 4" of snow melt equals plus the stickiness (read heaviness) that comes with it

fixerupper · Jan 6, 2014

No. Because there will be no more water up there than there is now.

Yesterday morning I was watching a weather gal standing in deep snow while doing her forecast. She told us this snow is so cold and fluffy that it's so much more difficult to clear off. I thought what???? What would she say if the snow was wet and heavy? "This wet heavy snow moves easy because the temp is warm"??? I could tell she's never had a snow shovel in her tender hands. Jim

RLA · Jan 6, 2014

So what you folks are saying is a level full
5 gallon bucket of snow we have now weighs the
same as a level full bucket of wet snow?

36F30 · Jan 6, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:19:49 01/06/14) So what you folks are saying is a level full
5 gallon bucket of snow we have now weighs the
same as a level full bucket of wet snow?

NOPE, what they are saying is that a five gallon bucket of fluffy snow's weight will not change with temperature. If you weigh it outside and then bring it in and melt it to water, it will weigh exactly the same. Volume will decrease as the water changes state from solid to liquid but the weight never changes. So without adding more snow or rain, the snowload on the roof stays the same the fluffy snow just decreases in volume.
Now on that roof as snow changes state to water, the water will run off and decrease the weight. Nothing to do with temperature only gravity.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jan 6, 2014

(quoted from post at 21:19:49 01/06/14) So what you folks are saying is a level full
5 gallon bucket of snow we have now weighs the
same as a level full bucket of wet snow?

o, they are saying as it melts the weight will not change.

JayinNY · Jan 6, 2014

That's a good question , I'd say yes , and prolly be wrong, but, you can't make a snowball outta the light snow blowing around and throw it, but when it warms up and the snow melts, you can pack a snowball and throw it, as the snow seems more dense. The same as plowing wet heavy snow, harder to push verse light powder snow, because its heavier. Just my opinion.

Jerry/MT · Jan 6, 2014

If you fill a bucket with snow then bring it into warm house and the snow turns to water, will the bucket change its total weight just because the solid water turned to liqiuid water? The answer is obviously No!
So if you roof is covered with dry snow and it doesn't rain or snow anymore and the temperature warms up the weight on the roof is the same until the snow turns to liquid and runs off the roof.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 6, 2014

Science question, where does the white go when the snow melts?

onefarmer · Jan 6, 2014

NO because it would still be the same amount of water, no matter what form it's in.

Maybe some less due to evaporation?

Steve@Advance · Jan 6, 2014

No, it's as heavy now as it will get.

As soon as any melting begins, it will begin to LOOSE weight because the liquid will begin to drain away and evaporate.

In fact, it's already loosing weight from blowing away and the sun's radiation evaporation.

Janicholson · Jan 6, 2014

interesting. Sticky warm snow can be picked up and squished together compressing it into a more solid chunky form. More of it is all. The powder does not pack as well. Jim
Clear data

Traditional Farmer · Jan 7, 2014

Pretty funny you actually got some people to answer that seriously and some even got it wrong(LOL)
I got one for you which weighs the most a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?

RandyB(MI) · Jan 7, 2014

I bet some never do crosswords, word searches , puzzles, play eucre or any other mind stimulating activities during the cold winter months when there isn't much to stimulate it. There's 10 old guys that sit together every day at the same table at one local restaurant and talk about just about everything. I'm sure they learn something new every day but to sideliners they are just a bunch of foolish ole farts with nothing to do or say. Live and let live is a good way to roll.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 7, 2014

Vacuum?

D.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 7, 2014

Earth?

D.

DENNIS MIN · Jan 7, 2014

rrlund,

Made a mistake.

My apologies.

D.

Physics question about snow

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