Colorado Weather: Snow Fell Near Winter Park Even as Temperatures Reached 48 Degrees
COLORADO — Drivers traveling along Highway 40 near Empire and Winter Park were surprised this week when snow began falling despite dashboard temperatures reading around 48 degrees, a scenario that appears counterintuitive but is scientifically well understood by meteorologists. The unusual snowfall occurred as light precipitation moved into very dry mountain air, allowing a rapid cooling process to take place even though surface temperatures remained well above freezing.
Wet-Bulb Temperature Played the Key Role
Meteorologists explain that snowfall in warm conditions is possible due to wet-bulb temperature, which measures how cool the air can become through evaporation before it becomes fully saturated.
When precipitation falls into dry air, part of it evaporates. This evaporation removes heat from the surrounding air, causing temperatures within the atmospheric column to drop rapidly. In this case, although the air temperature was in the upper 40s, the wet-bulb temperature dropped below 32 degrees, allowing snowflakes to survive their descent to the ground.
Why Snowflakes Did Not Melt on the Way Down
Once the air cooled sufficiently through evaporation, snowflakes stopped melting as they fell. This allowed snow to reach the surface intact, even though thermometers at ground level continued to show mild temperatures. This process is especially common in mountain environments, where elevation changes and dry air frequently create conditions favorable for rapid evaporational cooling.
Common Phenomenon Along Colorado’s Front Range
Weather experts note that this type of snowfall is not rare in Colorado, particularly near mountain passes, valleys, and along the Front Range. Snowfall in these situations often begins as virga, precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground, before transitioning into measurable snow once the air column cools and moistens enough. Drivers and residents are often caught off guard because standard temperature readings do not capture these atmospheric dynamics.
Why Dashboard Temperatures Can Be Misleading
Dashboard thermometers measure surface air temperature only, not the vertical temperature profile of the atmosphere. As a result, they do not reflect wet-bulb cooling happening above ground level. Meteorologists stress that precipitation type depends more on wet-bulb temperature than air temperature alone, which explains how snow can fall at seemingly impossible readings.
What This Means for Mountain Travel
While snowfall at mild temperatures may appear harmless, it can still create slick road conditions, especially in shaded or elevated areas where surfaces cool quickly. Drivers traveling through mountain corridors are advised to remain cautious whenever precipitation is present, regardless of what temperature displays suggest.
Understanding wet-bulb effects can help explain why winter weather behaves differently in Colorado’s high-elevation terrain. If you’ve experienced surprising weather conditions while traveling through Colorado’s mountains, share your observations and stay informed with continued local coverage at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
