How many inches of rain equals snow?

The conversion of rainfall to snowfall depends on various factors, including temperature, humidity, and the type of precipitation.

There is no direct conversion ratio between inches of rain and inches of snow because these factors can vary significantly.

Enter Inches of Rain:

What is one inch of rain equal to snow? 

What is the equivalent of 1 inch of rain to snow? Typically, a general rule of thumb is that 1 inch of rain is equivalent to approximately 10 inches of snow. However, this ratio can change depending on the conditions. For instance, if the temperature is near freezing, the ratio might be closer to 1 inch of rain to 5-8 inches of snow. In colder temperatures, the snowflakes are lighter and less dense, leading to a higher accumulation for the same amount of precipitation.

Inches of rain to snow Table

Inches of Rain	Approximate Inches of Snow (Near Freezing)
0.05 inches of rain to snow	0.5 inches
0.1 inches of rain to snow	1 inch
0.2 inches of rain to snow	0.5 inches
0.25 inches of rain to snow	2.5 inches
0.5 inches of rain to snow	5 inches
1 inch of rain to snow	10 inches
2 inches of rain to snow	20 inches
3 inches of rain to snow	30 inches
3.25 inches of rain to snow	32.5 inches
3.5 inches of rain to snow	35 inches
4 inches of rain to snow	40 inches
5 inches of rain to snow	50 inches
6 inches of rain to snow	60 inches
7 inches of rain to snow	70 inches
8 inches of rain to snow	80 inches
9 inches of rain to snow	90 inches

One inch of rain is equivalent to how much snow. While there is no universally precise conversion from inches of rain to inches of snow due to the various factors influencing the process, you can use a general guideline as mentioned earlier (1 inch of rain roughly equals 10 inches of snow near freezing temperatures) and create a rough conversion table based on that rule. It's important to note that this is a rough estimate, and the actual conversion can vary depending on the specific weather conditions at the time.

What needs to happen for rain to turn into snow?

Rain turns into snow when the temperature of the air and the surrounding environment is cold enough for the water droplets in the rain to freeze into ice crystals before reaching the ground. Factors need to be in place for this transformation to occur:

The most critical factor is the temperature. Raindrops freeze and become snowflakes when the air temperature is at or below freezing (32°F or 0°C). The colder the air, the more likely it is for rain to turn into snow.

To turn rain into snow, the raindrops must undergo a process called nucleation, where ice crystals form around tiny particles in the air. These ice crystals grow and develop into snowflakes as they collide with other ice crystals and supercooled water droplets in the cloud.

For rain to turn into snow, need cold temperatures at or below freezing, a freezing level that allows rain to freeze before reaching the ground, the presence of ice nuclei or supercooled water droplets, adequate moisture, and atmospheric dynamics to support the process. The exact conditions can vary depending on the location and specific weather.

inches to mm conversion