April 2026 General Discussion

[weatherbo]

1 hour ago, roardog said:

It’s interesting how much longer a wooded or forested area can hold onto snowpack. Around here it’s all farm fields so any amount of wind combined with above freezing air will obliterate snow cover while the same conditions in the northern part of the state with all the trees will hold onto snow cover. 

Yes, but there is a big difference between snow cover and snowpack.  The 8-12" snowpack here still holds a 4" water content that is resistant to melt.  The southern sub rarely gets a pack, it's just cover, so the snow is prone to melt regardless of forest or field.

[A-L-E-K]

Word

[roardog]

2 hours ago, weatherbo said:

Yes, but there is a big difference between snow cover and snowpack.  The 8-12" snowpack here still holds a 4" water content that is resistant to melt.  The southern sub rarely gets a pack, it's just cover, so the snow is prone to melt regardless of forest or field.

One of the unusual aspects of this area is that the more urban areas actually develop and keep a snowpack longer because the buildings and houses stop the wind both from blowing it away and the wind from melting it during warmer periods. Of course the ditches will often be the one spot that has deep snow all winter. The snow lasted in the ditches this year until April.