How much water does a foot of snow produce?

When snow falls it is commonly accepted that for every ten inches of snow it produces one inch of water. That is a lot of water, especially with a major snow event but is it necessarily true? No, it isn’t.

Like everything there are a number of variables that come into play when determining how much water comes out of a snow event. The air temperature, wind speeds and crystal structure ultimately determine how much water comes out of a snow event. For an ordinary snow event this ratio holds true but as everyone knows not all snow events are the same. A wet snow can produce as much as four inches of water for every ten inches of snow and some very light snows can produce as little as only a quarter of an inch of water.

Typically colder temperatures produce smaller amounts of water while higher temperatures (closer to the freezing point) produce much more water. That can be a lot of water. If snow falls evenly across an acre of land and ordinary snow can produce over 2,700 gallons of water! This may be a problem in an urbanized area where drains can clog or be covered leading to ponding but the water that snow produces is vital as snow melt feeds small rivers and streams in the spring.

When the snow starts to melt the best thing that an owner of a commercial property can do is to make sure their drains are cleared so that the runoff can simply clear itself. For those who use Michael B. Stoner Inc to handle their commercial properties this is something that we take into account. Our 30 years of experience in the business have taught us that clearing the snow is important but making sure the snow can dispose of itself is just as important. It’s the little things that experience brings.

If you own a business in Central Pennsylvania in Chambersburg, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Hershey, Middletown, Harrisburg or just about anywhere in between and you have a commercial lot that needs snow and ice removal services then give us a call at 717-245-2225 or visit our contact page. We are fully insured and are available 24/7 for your snow or ice removal needs. Don’t wait until the flakes start flying, give us a call today!