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University Communications Network > Ask Dr. Universe > climate

What makes fluffy snow turn into crunchy, slippery, icy snow? — Penelope, 11, New York state

April 2, 2026 melissamayer

Dear Penelope,

I love the feel of freshly fallen, fluffy snow. But then it turns crunchy and wet. That feels yucky under my paws.

I asked my friend Jaitun Patel why that happens. She’s a data scientist at Washington State University’s AgWeatherNet. She makes sure weather stations put out reliable data.

She told me that fluffy snow turns crunchy because of how falling snowflakes land then melt and refreeze.

Snow forms when water vapor freezes way up in the clouds. That makes ice crystals called snowflakes.

Snowflakes look different depending on the conditions when they form. Some look star-shaped. They have lacy or … » More …

What safety measures can we take during extreme weather conditions? – Zadok, 8, Kenya

May 23, 2024 melissamayer

Dear Zadok,

When I was a kitten, a tornado tore through the neighborhood I was visiting. It got eerily quiet outside. Then the sky turned green. My littermates and I climbed into an empty bathtub to stay safe. After that, it got super loud.

I talked about extreme weather with Nathan Santo Domingo. He’s a weather scientist at Washington State University.

He told me that how to prepare depends on where you live. Different places have different kinds of extreme weather.

“Keep an eye on the forecast and know what's coming your way,” Santo Domingo said. “Be smart about what happens in your area.”

Dear Dr. Universe: What exactly is climate change? How does it affect the way we live? –Pranav, 10, Melbourne, Fla.

April 24, 2017 rcwebber

Dear Pranav,

If you’re anything like me, one of the first things you'll do in the morning is check the weather. Sometimes it’s rainy and I’ll put on my rubber boots. Other days it’s really sunny and I’ll grab my sunglasses. When we look at the patterns of these weather conditions over a long time—sometimes over hundreds of years—we can learn about a place’s climate.