Within the next few paragraphs, you’ll learn more information about the some of the hazards associated with flying in winter weather. Most importantly, you’ll learn why snow (and even ice) are no big deal for the majority of modern aircraft.
Myths About Flying in Snow
Snow (and cold weather, more generally) is basically safe to fly in—temperatures in the upper atmosphere, where a plane cruises for most of the flight, are around -70ºF, colder than anywhere on Earth. As long as slick or wet runway conditions don’t prevent take off and heavy snow doesn’t impair visibility, winter weather does not present a fundamental impediment to flight.
On the other hand, some myths related to the question “can planes fly in snow?” are false, but in a way that won’t bring you much comfort. Specifically, the design of modern aircraft does not on its own counteract that aerodynamic havoc ice frozen on wings and other sensitive parts of the plane can wreak, even though most pilots are trained to safely fly and land a plane that’s fallen victim to freezing.
How High Can Snowfall Occur?
Theoretically, precipitation can occur into the top layers of the troposphere, which extends about 10 miles above the ground. However, most precipitation (which is necessarily snow or ice at such altitudes) occurs much lower than this, which is why conditions outside the planes window usually appear clear, even if the weather on the ground is awful.
This means that in the majority of cases, it’s not possible for precipitation to form on an aircraft during flight, although some historical examples listed in this recent article about thunderstorms slightly counteract this general truth.
The Importance of De-icing
Although some hazards do present themselves when flying in sow and other cold weather, pilot training and other long-established protocols counteract them. De-icing before take-off is perhaps the most important measure within this toolkit, as ice on the wings is one of the only weather-related problems an aircraft can’t easily overcome.
This is not to say the plane you’re on is going to crash if a little ice forms after de-icing but before take-off—the answer to “can planes fly in snow?” doesn’t become “no” for something minor like that. You should, however, take a breath and be thankful the next time a plane you’re on stops to be de-iced, even if the process delays your departure slightly!
Flying in Snow vs. Flying in Rain
Although the two forms of precipitation look and feel very different, snow is essentially just rain in a different state. Likewise, flying in the snow bears many similarities to flying in the rain—and many of the same potential hazards accompany it. As stated a few paragraphs ago, the main impediments snow presents to flying are slick runways and a lack of visibility, which are the same problems rain cause.
To look at this another way, rain and snow are largely safe to fly in, and by extension to take off and land in. No inclement weather of any sort should disrupt your flying at all unless it is very severe, and there’s almost no chance weather will bring down the aircraft you’re on.
Conclusion
Can planes fly in snow? Of course they can! There are some winter weather circumstances, however, that are unsuitable for flying. The good news is that pilots and air traffic controllers are well-versed in what sorts of conditions are safe and which aren’t, which means that you needn’t worry if snow is falling outside the window of your plane. You’ll be flying in a winter wonderland (hopefully, with cheap flights you’ve booked on Skyscanner below!) and happy as a clam the whole time!
