Snow to liquid ratio?

[nywx]

Hey guys, I hope everyone has had a happy new year so far. Quick question regarding my subject...

I understand that the colder the atmosphere and the surface the higher the ratio due to the cooling. How can you calculate that when observing the models? I live on LI (The south shore) and some models have me at around .5" QPF with my 850 temps between -9 to -12 during the potential storm. I understand it is retarded to make snowfall accumulations this far out, I was just curious what that would convert to with such a high ratio? And like I stated how would you calculate that. Thank you all for your assistance, this is a great board and I appreciate any answer!

[Anonymous]

I think between 5 and 11 inches of snow, the snow to water ratios would be about 20 to 1, so a .5 qpf would convert to about 5 to 11 inches of snow accumulation.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong lol...........................




-ARCTIC SNOW BLAST JEB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BRING IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[therock1811]

You're incorrect, Jeb...

At .5 QPF:

10:1=5"
20:1=10"
30:1=15"

In this case, for every increase of the snow/rain ratio by 10, snow amount increases by five inches.

Hope that helps!

[nywx]

Perfect, thanks guys... Here's one more annoying question, can you tell what kind of ratio your looking at by viewing the 850 maps or the 1000mb? I also appreciate the patients everybody.

[verycoolnin]

I'm not very sure of the question.

850mb is the general rule for the atmosphere 5000 ft up. Usually if it's freezing at 850mb it will snow. It is also used for wind measurments I believe, I don't check that. 1000mb is the general rule for sealevel.