What A “Warm Nose” Means For Snow, Sleet, Or Ice
• A 'warm nose' is a layer of warm air between colder layers, affecting winter precipitation types.
• A shallow warm nose favors sleet, while a deeper one increases the risk of freezing rain and icy conditions.
• Strengthening warm nose forecasts raise concerns for icy roads, power outages, and dangerous travel.
Meteorologists monitor warm nose during winter storms
As a winter storm looms, meteorologists are keeping a close watch on a phenomenon known as the “warm nose.” This refers to a layer of above-freezing air sandwiched between layers of colder air closer to the ground. When snow falls into this warmer layer, it can melt and turn into rain. The rain may then refreeze as it nears the ground, leading to sleet or freezing rain.
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