a snowflake sitting in the snow with the sun behind it

Snow forms when water vapor in the atmosphere freezes into ice crystals. This process typically involves several key steps:1. **Cooling of Air**: When temperatures drop, the air can no longer hold as much moisture, leading to the cooling of water vapor.2. **Condensation**: As the air cools, water vapor condenses around tiny particles (like dust or pollen) in the atmosphere, forming cloud droplets.3. **Freezing**: If the temperature is cold enough, these droplets freeze into ice crystals. This usually occurs at temperatures below 0°C (32°F).4. **Crystal Growth**: The ice crystals grow as more water vapor condenses and freezes onto them. The shape of the crystals can vary based on temperature and humidity, leading to the diverse forms of snowflakes.5. **Aggregation**: When multiple ice crystals stick together, they form snowflakes, which can then fall to the ground as snow.Overall, the formation of snow is a complex interplay of temperature, humidity, and atmospheric conditions.