<p>I don't know if someone has conducted statistical research on this. It certainly depends on the situation. Here are some situations:</p>
<h1>More snow in coast</h1>
<ul>
<li><p>Like @gerrit commented, elevation increases precipitation as air is forced to lift up and thus cools condensing water vapor -&gt; rain/snow. This is true when predominant winds are from the sea.</p>
</li>
<li><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake-effect_snow" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lake-effect snow</a> situations</p>
</li>
</ul>
<h1>Less snow in coast</h1>
<ul>
<li>The air temperatures are affected by nearby bodies of water so situations where temperatures are freezing, but the sea isn't frozen yet will keep the coastal temperatures higher. Thus melting falling and fallen snow faster than in inland.</li>
</ul>

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2017-07-19T15:36:15.557Z
This is the right answer, but maybe you can add some more explanation and examples.
kingledion
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2017-07-20T06:19:45.963Z
I like to keep it simple.
Communisty
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2017-07-19T12:44:53.773Z
2017-07-19T12:53:08.497Z
2020-06-18T08:25:19.090Z
Communisty
<p>To add to Communnisty but too long for comment:</p>

<p>In general, open water with moderate temperatures, make them a bit cooler in summer or in tropics than otherwise would be likely, warmer in winter and in far north/south and where in the ocean currents a location is matters, but as a generality these statements are true.  So, in an area that is marginal for snow temperatures, say Seattle, they will receive less coastal snow because of the warmer temps.  Once you drop below the marginal temperature, say Mount Baker or Mount Rainier, still in the coastal moisture increase zone but higher altitude to push consistently below freezing in the winter, you have snow.   Lots and lots of it. </p>

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2017-07-19T17:27:05.140Z
2017-07-19T17:27:05.140Z
dlb
<p>The warmer the air, the greater the water vapor pressure. So the heaviest snowfalls occur where and when it is as warm as possible without the snow melting --- just barely below freezing. If average temperatures are above freezing, temperatures being too high limits snow, and snow is more likely and heavier inland, away from the water whose high heat capacity moderates temperatures. If average temperatures are far below freezing, low water vapor pressure limits snow, and snow is more likely and heavier at the coast.</p>

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2017-07-25T23:36:43.743Z
2017-07-25T23:36:43.743Z
Jack Denur
<p>Is it true that a coastal area is less likely to see snow compared with inland area nearby? If so, what are the reasons?</p>

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2017-07-19T09:20:37.070Z
It depends.  The coastal side of mountains may see more snow (because more precipitation) than the inland sides, such as between Norway and Sweden.
gerrit
<snow>
Is snow less likely to appear at a coastal area?
Gstestso
# Is snow less likely to appear at a coastal area?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-07-19)

Is it true that a coastal area is less likely to see snow compared with inland area nearby? If so, what are the reasons?

**Tags:** snow

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It depends.  The coastal side of mountains may see more snow (because more precipitation) than the inland sides, such as between Norway and Sweden.  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-07-19. Score: 3

I don't know if someone has conducted statistical research on this. It certainly depends on the situation. Here are some situations:

# More snow in coast

* Like @username_1 commented, elevation increases precipitation as air is forced to lift up and thus cools condensing water vapor -> rain/snow. This is true when predominant winds are from the sea.
* [Lake-effect snow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake-effect_snow) situations

# Less snow in coast

* The air temperatures are affected by nearby bodies of water so situations where temperatures are freezing, but the sea isn't frozen yet will keep the coastal temperatures higher. Thus melting falling and fallen snow faster than in inland.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This is the right answer, but maybe you can add some more explanation and examples.  
> **username_2**: I like to keep it simple.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-07-19. Score: 1

To add to Communnisty but too long for comment:

In general, open water with moderate temperatures, make them a bit cooler in summer or in tropics than otherwise would be likely, warmer in winter and in far north/south and where in the ocean currents a location is matters, but as a generality these statements are true. So, in an area that is marginal for snow temperatures, say Seattle, they will receive less coastal snow because of the warmer temps. Once you drop below the marginal temperature, say Mount Baker or Mount Rainier, still in the coastal moisture increase zone but higher altitude to push consistently below freezing in the winter, you have snow. Lots and lots of it.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-07-25. Score: 1

The warmer the air, the greater the water vapor pressure. So the heaviest snowfalls occur where and when it is as warm as possible without the snow melting --- just barely below freezing. If average temperatures are above freezing, temperatures being too high limits snow, and snow is more likely and heavier inland, away from the water whose high heat capacity moderates temperatures. If average temperatures are far below freezing, low water vapor pressure limits snow, and snow is more likely and heavier at the coast.


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