What is Snowliage?

First, to start, welcome to my blog on everything New England and Autumn.

In today’s article, we’ll explore the intriguing transition from autumn to winter and the unique atmospheric phenomena that occur during this seasonal shift.

Snow + Foliage = Snowliage

The collision of Fall with the early arrival of winter presents photographers and leaf-peepers with an opportunity to see snowliage. Snowliage is where you have the fall colors on the trees and in some form snow joins the scene. either on the mountains above the fall colors as seen below or covering the fall colors as seen down the page.

This is one of the concerns I always have, What if Mother Nature gets a jump on winter and dumps snow on us early? Generally, if it’s cold enough to produce snow it will also rush the end of the leaves on the trees. Sometimes the event is just the higher elevations like in the above picture

Intensity Vs. Duration Vs. Elevation

These should be self-explanatory but each of these impacts what will happen as a result of the snow. As I stated above Higher Elevations get snow and it doesn’t affect the fall colors because maples, birch, ash, and other fall color-producing trees DON’T grow at higher elevations. So in the above image, you get the snow high on the slopes and the fall colors below in the valley.

But if the Elevation is much lower and mixes with the fall color-producing trees then I worry about the Intensity of the storm. in this picture, the lower elevation got only a dusting of snow.

The break in the snowline is just where the pine trees are mixing with maples and Birch. These snow-covered trees will probably shed their leaves but all the ones lower on the slope are likely to keep their leaves “DEPENDING” on what happens weather-wise over said week. It all depends on the weather, wind, rain, snow, or sun. These ingredients will determine if the leaves stay on the trees or fall the next day…

Now another factor to consider is the duration. Sometimes the temps drop quickly and a bit of rain turns to snow coating the ground and leaves. Then the sun breaks through and it’s over.

In 2011 A major storm came through dumping only an inch of snow on eastern Mass but leaving 12-20 inches in the Pioneer Valley to Western Massachusetts. The duration was only overnight but the intensity was variable depending on where you were in the state. The next morning here in Salem, it started cloudy but the sun soon broke through and the temperature began to climb but the damage was done, or was it?

Beware Of Absolutes When It Comes To The Weather

This statement doesn’t apply to central and western Massachusetts in this year (2011) because the snow didn’t melt till almost the 2nd week of November. But here in Salem, the snow was gone by the afternoon the next day. (remember the duration matters) (These pics are 31 October and 3 November)

Here in Salem, the snow came down softly, not accomplished by strong winds (Low Intensity) and it warmed up immediately the next morning (Duration) as you can see in the second picture, I still had beautiful fall colors up in the trees three days later. So beware of absolutes, they rarely cover all facets of the weather affecting the fall colors.

Location, Location, Location

If you pick up a Gazetteer from my Amazon store you can check the different elevations on the maps. This is a benefit of using the Gazetteers.

If you are in Stowe getting beautiful Snowliage but the leaves the next morning are on the ground, You don’t have to cry about it, Because there is so much more to Vermont than Stowe. (exchange the town and state in place of Stowe) All you have to do is go a few valleys over and likely you will find no snow, no leaves on the ground, and the trees may still be a little green as of yet…

I tell people all the time, if you are not finding good color where you are, MOVE YOUR FEET… Mostly the weather that affected this area didn’t cover all of New England. Heck head over to the White Mountains and see what it’s like over there. Maybe check over on the western side of the Green Mountains by Burlington.

The weather in one spot is not usually the same weather in another location. Here in my last image is South of Burlington Vermont at Shelburne Museum on Lake Champlain looking over toward New York. It’s a week after I got the Snow up in Smuggler’s Notch.

Aside from one bare tree messing up my lovely landscape, the colors were not affected by Mount Mansfield to the North receiving some snow last week which if you didn’t know, is only 24 miles away. Could it have affected ALL OF Vermont? Sure but it’s a rare storm in New England that has that kind of power. Normally most storms (weather events) are just localized to a smaller area.

Conclusion

Snowliage, WHEN it happens is to be treated as a special event. Rarely have I been in the right place at the right time to observe it myself. IT IS RARE!!! It can make your images so much more unique when you can show the crossing of the seasons. Treasure it because it will be over far quicker than you would like. But if the fickle finger of fate puts snowliage in your way, just enjoy it and move on with your trip and enjoy the gift.

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

Visit my Amazon affiliate store for items that Lisa and I have curated for you. These items are either New England-made or things we think will make your fall foliage trip more successful.