Snow to Rain Ratio Calculator

Estimate how much snow a given amount of precipitation makes, or how much water is in a snowfall, using the air temperature to pick a realistic ratio.

How to use the Snow to Rain Ratio Calculator

Choose rain → snow or snow → rain.
Enter the amount in inches.
Enter the air temperature in °F.

How it works

The often-quoted average is 10 inches of snow per inch of liquid (10:1), but the ratio varies with temperature. Wet snow near freezing may be 5:1, while very cold, dry “powder” can be 30:1 or more. This calculator uses typical ranges: about 10:1 from 28–33 °F, 15:1 from 20–27 °F, 20:1 from 15–19 °F, 30:1 from 10–14 °F and higher in extreme cold.

Typical snow-to-liquid ratios

Air temperature	Ratio	1 in of liquid makes
34 °F (1 °C)	5:1	5 in of snow
30 °F (-1 °C)	10:1	10 in of snow
24 °F (-4 °C)	15:1	15 in of snow
17 °F (-8 °C)	20:1	20 in of snow
12 °F (-11 °C)	30:1	30 in of snow
5 °F (-15 °C)	40:1	40 in of snow
-5 °F (-21 °C)	50:1	50 in of snow

Frequently asked questions

How much snow is 1 inch of rain?

About 10 inches on average, but anywhere from 5 to 30+ inches depending on temperature.

Why is cold snow fluffier?

At lower temperatures snowflakes form delicate, airy crystals that trap more air.

How do I measure snow water equivalent?

Collect a column of snow in a container, melt it and measure the water depth.

Is 6 inches of snow a lot of water?

Typically about 0.6 inch of liquid at a 10:1 ratio.