Variations in Wind Speed and Air Temperature in the Surface Layer during Blowing Snow Analyzed from Empirical Data

Abstract

Variations in wind speed and air temperature during blowing snow are considered in detail using data from the Canadian weather observation network with high spatiotemporal resolution. It is revealed that blowing snow considerably affects the lower atmospheric layer regime. The analysis of observational data illustrates the fact of wind speed increase during the snowstorm. The local minima of air temperature during the period of blowing snow are identified. The method is determined for calculating the threshold wind speed that provokes the onset of blowing snow. The highest skill scores were obtained for the method which takes into account air temperature and humidity.