Why The Snow Won't Melt Explained By The National Weather Service

The National Weather Service has offered an explanation for the prolonged presence of snow on the ground since the back-to-back weekend snow storms moved out of the region, and it goes beyond it just being cold.

According to the National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, many residents have expressed curiosity about the longevity of the snowpack and there are two primary factors contributing to this extended duration.

The first reason is the aforementioned cold temperatures that have been relentless since the middle of January. Persistent cold weather conditions prevent the snow from melting at a typical rate.

The second reason involves the ice pellets that fell during the second storm. These ice pellets landed on top of the existing snow and this layer of ice pellets serves to protect the snow from the sun's rays. Additionally, the presence of these ice pellets significantly increases the water content within the snowpack. This higher water content makes the snow much harder to melt.

The combination of sustained cold temperatures and the insulating, water-retaining layer of ice pellets has created conditions conducive to the snowpack's unusual persistence, officials said.

Residents can expect the snowpack to remain until these conditions change.