YORK, Pa. — People across our area are waking up to snow this morning, but this is not the same type of snow like we saw in central Pennsylvania's last storm.
There's an avalanche of science behind the increased snowfall and why this snow is different.
The main difference comes down to temperature. This morning, central Pennsylvania is hovering in the 20-degree range. The lower the temperature, the fluffier the snow tends to be when it falls.
To visualize the difference, imagine an inch of liquid.
When the temperature is 34 degrees Fahrenheit, that single inch of liquid will produce 5 inches of wet snow.
If the temperature drops just 4 degrees to 30 degrees, that same inch of liquid will become 10 inches of "typical" snow.
If the temperature drops again to 18 degrees, the inch of liquid can turn into about 20 inches of light, fluffy snow.
This type of snow may be a bit less strenuous to clear away, but it is still just as slick on the roads and sidewalks.