Drift snow is light snow caught in the wind, moving just above the ground or through the air. It reduces visibility, makes roads treacherous, and damages property. Several factors must be in place for drift snow to develop, and it can become a snowdrift if an obstacle prevents it from moving. Snowdrifts can be dangerous and cause damage to structures and roads. Protective walls are one way to defend against damage from drifting snow.
Drift snow is the name given to light snow that is caught in the wind and suspended in the air, moving just above the ground or through the air. One of the definitions for drift snow is that it must be moving above the ground, but at a height of no more than 6 feet (about 2 meters). Any windblown snow above this height is designated as snowdrift and is handled differently by meteorologists. Many dangers are presented by drifting snow, including a reduction in visibility, sometimes almost to the point of having no visibility. It can also make roads treacherous and slippery, and can damage property and other outdoor objects by settling in large quantities on surfaces that usually don’t have to bear the weight of snow.
Several factors must be in place for drift snow to develop. The first is that the snow itself must be of a certain consistency in order to be carried by the wind from the ground, or to be pushed around as it falls. It must be frozen and not too heavy or wet, so as not to be affected by the wind. The air temperature must be cold enough to keep the snow frozen after it is on the ground. The ground itself needs to be cold, so the falling snow doesn’t melt once it hits it, and the wind needs to be strong enough to move the flakes.
If most of these factors are present, the snow has the potential to become drift snow. If it is about to fall when the wind starts, the snow can be carried almost horizontally for a long distance before settling anywhere. On land, snow can be kicked up and carried a distance. Both events qualify as drift snow.
As it moves through the air, the drifting snow will move until the wind reduces its speed enough for it to fall to the ground or until some type of obstacle is hit. In the event that something physically prevents the snow from moving with the wind, then a snowdrift can begin to build up on the surface and before the obstruction. This can be a tree, a wall, a house or even a car. These drifting snowdrifts can be very deep and loose, making them dangerous.
One problem with a snowdrift is that objects such as road signs, people, cars, and houses can quickly become buried by the snow out of sight. It also adds unnecessary weight on a structure. The weight of the snow can cause the roof of a house to collapse or a tree to fall. Snow can also pile up on roads and block traffic. One of the only ways to defend against damage from drifting snow is to build protective walls, although these aren’t always effective.
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