Satisfying Snow

We had a very satisfying snow today. It feels like it’s been years since we’ve had one. Given that so many people wrongly believe that they don’t like snow, I thought it may be worthwhile explaining what makes a snow satisfying.

For starters, there has to be enough snow for it to be a satisfying snow. There’s no set amount, but it has to be enough to disrupt normal life, but not so much that it causes serious damage. I didn’t measure it today, but I’d guess we had somewhere around nine inches. It was enough so that schools, government buildings, and many businesses were closed or had altered hours. A big part of what makes a snow satisfying is that it slows everything down. We get an unexpected break.

The blanketing effect of snow has a lot to do with it. After a good snow, the world is quieter. Some of that is due to the changes in behavior snow causes. There’s less traffic and generally fewer people out and about. But the snow itself has a muffling effect. It makes it feel like nature has taken its own break for a little bit.

The look of snow is another factor. It’s beautiful seeing everything covered in pure white. Today’s snow did a nice job of sticking to trees without taking down their branches. That’s a nice bonus. It’s worth waking up early on a snow day just to see it before the plows and snowblowers get to work. Although, it also looks nice seeing the contrast between the snow and the cleared pavement.

Of course, for a snow to be truly satisfying, it has to be good for snow activities. If the snow is too powdery, it won’t stick. If it’s too wet, it’s too heavy. Good snow should clump so we can make snowballs and snowmen. At the same time, it shouldn’t weigh down the kids or soak them through in less than five minutes.

I’m pleased with today’s snow. It checked all the boxes. Very satisfying.