Question: If it snows 12 inches, how many inches of rain would have fallen? I have heard 4“ of rain for every 1” of snow. That does not seem possible, as we would have had 48“ of snow on December 26.
Answer: The amount of liquid water that would have fallen in the case of a 12- inch snow depends on the temperature and humidity at the altitude the snow forms, and the temperatures and humidities that the snow falls through on its way to the ground. A typical ratio of snow to liquid around here is about 10:1, but can readily range as low as 5:1 or as high as 20:1, and can vary significantly during the course of a given snowstorm. So, 12 inches of snow would often equate to about 1.2 inches of rain, but would correspond to as much as 2.4 inches at a 5:1 ratio or as little as .6 inches at a 20:1 ratio. It looks like the information you had previously reversed the proper ratios of snow and liquid water.