Can you smell the snow?

If you live in a part of the country where it snows, you’ve probably said or heard someone say, “It smells like it’s about to snow.”

But do you really smell the snow? Well yes and no.

The air really has a different smell before a blizzard. One ingredient for snow cold air. Cold air is naturally quite dry, and the lack of humidity can dampen your sense of smell. This suffocation is the result of the drying of the mucus around the olfactory receptors.

Humidity rises and atmospheric pressure changes, resulting in blizzard. Increasing the humidity slightly changes the smell of the air and also moistens the mucus around the olfactory receptors.

Simultaneously, cold air and pressure changes stimulate the trigeminal nerve in the nose. Although the trigeminal nerve is not responsible for odors, it provides certain sensations associated with certain odors. For example, stimulation of the trigeminal nerve is why mint smells “cool”.

Subtle changes in the air, combined with trigeminal stimulation, allow the human nervous system to sense differences in the weather, which may explain the perceived smell of snow.

Once snow is on the ground, it can take on a variety of new scents, primarily dependent on its location.

Snow in rural areas usually absorbs molecules from trees, grass and other plants. These molecules tend to give it a more earthy or woody scent.

On their way to the ground, the ice crystals that make up the snow absorb air molecules. As a result, urban snow can often smell more oily or dirty.

A study completed in 2021 found that snow purifies the air because it absorbs large amounts of airborne molecules. However, this means that the snow on the ground likely contains pollutants from the air that can affect its smell.

So, the next time your FOX Weather app tells you that snow is forecast, go outside and get a breath of fresh air. Perhaps you yourself will feel it coming.

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