It’s true.  We rarely get the huge amounts of snow that happened when we were children.  But, regardless of accumulation, today it has been dimmed “safe” to eat a bowl of snow cream.

To reiterate and another “burst your bubble” moment.  “Eating a small amount of snow is usually not a risk to your health!  The contaminants in snow are usually well below toxic levels,” writes the Cleveland Clinic.  “Eating snow cream can be a fun wintertime memory.”

Many professionals attribute the white powdery decrease to global warming.  In fact, some snow ski areas already have closed because of the lack of falling snow anymore.  The scientific term, Global Warming first was introduced by Environmental Activist, Al Gore, Jr. of Carthage, Tennessee in his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

According to www.quova.com, there are several factors that contribute
to the decrease in snowfall compared to previous years.  The following are some reasons for not amassing the larger snowfalls:
• WARMER TEMPERATURES.  Climate change has led to warmer temperatures globally.  Warmer temperatures cause more water to evaporate from the lands and oceans, leading to more precipitation.  In many areas, the precipitation fell as rain – not snow.  As a result, the amount of snowfall has decreased.
• CHANGE IN PRECIPITATION PATTERNS.  Climate change also affects precipitation patterns, leading to more variation in precipitation in some areas.  This means that some regions may experience more intense rainfall events instead of prolonged snowfall.
• CHANGES IN STORM TRACKS.  Weather patterns and storm tracks have shifted due to climate change.  In some cases, storms that used to bring snow to certain regions are now tracking differently, resulting in less snowfall.  Persistent dips in the jet stream in the West can lead to a pronounced ridge building in the East, causing warmer air to be funneled up from the Gulf of Mexico.
• ORIGINS OF STORMS.  It can also influence whether a region receives snow or rain.

From NOAA (The National Oceans and Atmospheric Association), “It rarely snows when the temperature drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit.  On average, 13 inches of snow equals one inch of rain.  Furthermore, DeKalb County, Tennessee gets five (5) inches of snow per year, while the U.S. average for snow is 28 inches.

“January has the coldest nighttime temperatures in the county with an average of 26.5, which is average compared to other locations throughout Tennessee,” wrote www.bestplaces.net.

In DeKalb County, there are 86.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which also is normal statewide.  Regarding the frigid temperatures, there are only 0.5 days when the temperature falls below zero (0).  This, too, is average statewide.

On average, 13 inches of snow equals one inch of rain in the United States.

An annual snowfall of 4.5 inches in DeKalb County means that it is snowier than most places in Tennessee.  The snowiest month is January with 1.7 inches and three months of the year have significant snowfall.

In conclusion, the following important weather notices include:
• WINTER STORM WARNING is issued when a combination of hazardous winter weather in the form of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet is imminent or occurring.  Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued 12 to 24 hours before the event is expected to begin.
• WINTER STORM WATCH is issued 12 to 24 hours in advance of the onset of severe weather conditions.  The watch may or may not be upgraded to a winter storm warning, depending on its movement or development.
• WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES are issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle and sleet, which will cause significant inconveniences, and, if caution if not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.
• WIND CHILL WARNING is issued when wind chill temperatures are expected to be hazardous to life within several minutes of exposure.
• SNOW FLURRIES is light snow falling for short durations.  No accumulation or light dusting is all that is expected.
Or more precisely, a watch means it could happen; whereas a warning means it will happen.