High mountains and a confluence of weather patterns conspire to make severe snowfall on the Tibetan Plateau a way of life, but the white stuff has its benign side too.
Snow provides critical resources and recreational benefits.
Most snow is found in the Northern Hemisphere, extending anywhere from 46.5 million square km in January to 3.8 million square km in August. Annual runoff from mountain snowpack contributes to streamflow and recharges groundwater over wide areas of the mid-latitudes, supplying water reserves for over a billion people. The National Snow and Ice Data Center receives questions about snow, ice and climate from around the world. We invite you to investigate our educational resources .