Snowmaking Temperature Calculator
Calculate the wet bulb temperature to determine if conditions are right for snowmaking. Get snow quality ratings and water usage estimates based on dry bulb temperature, humidity, and pressure.
Inputs
Results
Wet Bulb Temperature
19.2 °F
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter Dry Bulb Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Barometric Pressure.
- Review the Wet Bulb Temperature (°F) result.
- Use Can Make Snow and Snow Quality Rating to inform your decision.
How the result changes with Dry Bulb Temperature
| Dry Bulb Temperature | Wet Bulb Temperature |
|---|---|
| -13 | -11.8 °F |
| 4.5 | 2.5 °F |
| 26 | 20 °F |
| 43 | 33.8 °F |
What each input means
- Dry Bulb Temperature
- Standard air temperature read from a thermometer in Fahrenheit.
- Relative Humidity
- Current relative humidity as a percentage. Lower humidity is better for snowmaking — it allows more evaporative cooling.
- Barometric Pressure
- Barometric pressure in inches of mercury. Standard sea level is 29.92 inHg. Mountain resorts are typically 24–28 inHg.
What each result means
- Wet Bulb Temperature
- The wet bulb temperature, which accounts for evaporative cooling. Snowmaking requires a wet bulb at or below 27°F.
- Can Make Snow
- 1 = Yes (wet bulb ≤ 27°F), 0 = No. Snowmaking guns need wet bulb temperatures below freezing to produce snow.
- Snow Quality Rating
- 1 = Cannot produce/poor, 2 = Marginal (wet/heavy), 3 = Good, 4 = Very good, 5 = Excellent (dry, fluffy).
- Water Usage per Acre-Foot
- Estimated gallons of water needed to produce one acre-foot of snow. Colder temperatures are more efficient.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersDry Bulb Temperature = 25, Relative Humidity = 40, Barometric Pressure = 29.92 = 3 input(s) provided
- Calculate Wet Bulb Temperature19.2 = 19.2
- Calculate Can Make SnowCan Make Snow1 = 1
- Calculate Snow Quality Rating3 = 3
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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