Snömoln

Snömoln is a term used in Swedish meteorology and everyday language to describe clouds that produce snow. Snow forms when water vapor in the atmosphere deposits as ice crystals within subfreezing temperatures, creating snowflakes that grow and fall. For snow to reach the ground as snow rather than melt into rain, the air in the cloud and near the surface must be at or below 0 °C, and enough moisture must be present.

The clouds most commonly associated with snow are stratiform types such as nimbostratus and altostratus, which can bring steady, widespread snowfall. In colder or orographically influenced conditions, cumuliform clouds such as cumulus or cumulonimbus can also generate snow showers if the air mass remains sufficiently cold. The exact snowfall depends on the vertical temperature profile, humidity, and the rate at which air rises within the cloud. Snowflakes can vary in size and structure, and precipitation may occur as a continuous snowfall or as intermittent snow showers.

If surface temperatures are above freezing, snow may partially melt into sleet or rain before reaching the ground. In dry air, snow can sublimate before it reaches the surface, reducing observed snowfall. Snow that reaches the ground can accumulate, affecting transportation, visibility, and indoor heating demand. Conversely, rapid warming or strong downdrafts can limit accumulation.

Forecasting snömoln involves weather models, radar and satellite observations, and monitoring of freezing levels, humidity, and air travel conditions. In Nordic regions and high-altitude areas, snömoln are a common component of winter weather and a key factor in seasonal climate patterns and hazard planning.