Why Snow Makes Streets Whisper

The "hushed" feeling after a snowfall happens because snow is a powerful sound absorber. Fresh, fluffy snow can absorb roughly 60 percent of sound on average, which makes it comparable to the commercial foams and fibers used inside cars and buildings. Each tiny snowflake traps and scatters sound waves, so noises from traffic, people, and animals do not travel as far or as clearly.

Previous Fact Next Fact