Snow feels simple—cold, white, and soft—but the physics is surprisingly rich.
For example, snow can make the world sound quieter. Fresh snow contains lots of air pockets that absorb sound waves, reducing reflections and lowering perceived noise.
Snowflakes don’t fall straight
Snowflakes flutter and tumble because their shapes catch air. That makes their descent slow and sometimes sideways.
Another misconception: snow is “just frozen water.” The way crystals form depends on temperature and humidity, which is why snow can be powdery one day and heavy the next.
The famous “squeak”
If you have ever heard snow “squeak” underfoot, that is often linked to very cold conditions where crystals fracture in a specific way.
Next time it snows, look closely at the edges of leaves and fences. You are seeing small-scale meteorology in real time.