How snow on the ground affects local temperatures

If there is snow on the ground however, some of the sun’s energy will be reflected away by the snow. As much as 45 to 90 percent of the sun’s energy is reflected depending on the age and type of snow on the ground.

Some of the sun’s energy also is used to melt the snow. This means that there is less energy available to heat the earth’s surface, and consequently, the temperatures rise more slowly than would occur with no snow on the ground.

At night, snow on the ground readily gives off heat, allowing that heat to escape away from the surface of the ground. This causes rapid cooling. Forecast the overnight temperature to be lower than you would predict if there was no snow cover.