Snow load

Brad Buchanan · Dec 30, 2012

Hey folks!

This is tractor related because I park my tractors under a roof.

I was wondering why you can have a foot of fluffy snow on a roof and it seems to weigh very little but if the temerature goes up above freezing it seems to double or triple in weight.

Is it a perception because of a change in density? Does it draw moisture from the air?

The pic demonstrates snow loading on our Weber grill.

Brad

Bob - MI · Dec 30, 2012

You have answered your question.

The foot of fluffy snow reduces in volume as it warms and turns back to water. The same is true of ice and that's why ice floats.

Bob Bancroft · Dec 30, 2012

I think your word "seems" is the active word here. As snow melts and becomes liquid, then it will easily migrate through snow. It may travel to and gather someplace where you don't want it.
The real danger is if it starts to rain. Snow can absorb a tremendous amount of water.
We catch snow in a pail and melt it to measure water content. We have never weighed the snow vs water vs ice, and there is no reason to.

SweetFeet · Dec 30, 2012

Brad B,
Don't know the answer...
BUT THAT IS THE BEST PICTURE EVER!

Anonymous-0 · Dec 30, 2012

Ice floats because it is less dense than water.

Bob - MI · Dec 31, 2012

That's what I said.

Snow load

Brad Buchanan

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Bob - MI

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Bob Bancroft

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SweetFeet

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Bob - MI

Well-known Member

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