It's difficult to forecast how many inches of snow a winter storm will bring, even if you know the exact amount of rain that would fall if the temperature were above freezing. Precipitation isn't everything. Factors like temperature and wind can also have a big effect on how deep the snow gets.
If the temperature is barely below freezing, 1 inch of rain translates to roughly 10 inches of snow. But colder conditions result in snow crystals that are larger and more loosely packed. This means that at a temperature of around 10 degrees Fahrenheit, 1 inch of rainfall can translate to about 30 inches of fresh snow.
Want to see for yourself how temperature and precipitation affect the depth of snow left by a snowstorm? Use the slider below to change the amount of precipitation, use the buttons to adjust the temperature, and watch to see how the snow depth changes.
Our estimate is based on rain-to-snow conversion tables from the National Weather Service, and while it isn't perfect it should give you a good idea of how precipitation and temperature affect snowfall.
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