Myth or fact? Forecasters analyzed 5 popular weather statements

Tengrinews.kz — Does freezing weather always bring snow? Can it snow when temperatures are above freezing? And if your app says it’s 5°C, is that exactly what it will feel like outside? Tengrinews looked into these claims to separate fact from fiction.
"Bitter cold in winter means heavy snowfall"
Myth.
As meteorologists from Kazhydromet explain, severe frost does not automatically trigger snowfall. Precipitation requires moisture and specific atmospheric processes.
Temperatures can drop well below zero while the weather remains dry and clear. In other words, cold alone isn't enough to produce snow.
"Rain can fall from a cloud that formed hundreds of kilometers away"Fact.
Cloud systems and air masses travel along with atmospheric circulation. Consequently, precipitation can fall far from the point where a cloud originally formed.
This means the place where a cloud appears and the place where it actually rains can be a significant distance apart.
"If the app shows 5°C, it will be 5°C everywhere outdoors"Myth.
Even within a single city, temperatures can vary. Readings are influenced by terrain, elevation, building density, wind, cloud cover, and other factors.
Therefore, the figure in your app isn't necessarily the exact temperature right outside your door. The difference can be especially noticeable between open areas and densely built-up neighborhoods.
"It can snow at temperatures above freezing"
Fact.
Yes. If the surface temperature is slightly above zero, snowflakes can sometimes reach the ground before melting completely.
Snow falling during a slight thaw is a perfectly possible phenomenon, not a forecast error.
"If the forecast says 30°C, that's exactly how it will feel"Myth.
Air temperature is not the only factor affecting our perception of heat. Humidity, wind, solar radiation, and other weather conditions play a crucial role.
This is why a reading of 30°C can feel completely different depending on the environment.












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Publication by the Republican State Enterprise "Kazhydromet" (@kazhydromet)


As a reminder, Tengrinews and Kazhydromet previously investigated the truth behind popular weather lore — from low-flying swallows to red skies and lunar halos.