❄️ Snow is like a cold, fluffy blanket that falls from the sky when it's very chilly outside! Some places have snow because they are far from the sun’s warmth, like high up in the mountains or near the North and South Poles. Other places are warm and cozy, so snow melts before it can land!
🌍 Imagine Earth wearing a big winter hat—only the top and bottom parts get snow, while the middle stays warm!
❄️ Snow forms when tiny water droplets in clouds freeze into ice crystals. For snow to reach the ground, the air must stay cold all the way down! Places near the equator get lots of sun and stay warm, so snow rarely falls there. But mountains or polar regions are cold enough for snow to pile up.
🌡️ The higher you go (like up a mountain), the colder it gets—that’s why tall peaks have snow even in summer!
🗺️ Check a globe: snowy places are usually far north (like Canada) or far south (like Antarctica).
❄️ Snowfall depends on three main factors: temperature, humidity, and altitude/latitude. For snow to form, the atmosphere must be below freezing (0°C/32°F), with enough moisture in the air. Polar regions and high-altitude areas meet these conditions year-round, while tropical zones rarely do.
🌎 Latitude matters because the sun’s rays hit the equator directly, warming it more than the poles. Altitude cools the air—every 1,000 feet up, temperature drops ~3.5°F.
🌀 Ocean currents and wind patterns also play a role. For example, the UK is snowy in Scotland (north/high) but rarely in London (south/low).