snowing hard

USAGE SUMMARY

"snowing hard" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe the intensity of a snowfall. For example, "It has been snowing hard all afternoon, so we decided to stay indoors".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

It was midwinter and snowing hard.

The Guardian - Books

Snowing hard on the drive to the airport.

The New York Times

"He's got all the help he needs, and it's snowing hard now".

The New Yorker

It was snowing hard in Charikar, a market town north of Kabul.

The New York Times

It is often snowing, hard, when people fall in or out of love.

The New York Times

On Sunday afternoon, it was still snowing hard, and road conditions were awful.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

Despite the film's tundralike setting, it snows hard in Kurdistan only a few weeks of the year.

The New York Times

And despite the tundralike setting in "A Time for Drunken Horses," it snows hard in Iranian Kurdistan only a few weeks of the year.

The New York Times

One of the last times it snowed hard enough for the roads to be risky and schools across the Washington region to close, I watched a fox playing in my backyard.

The Washington Post

It also means that when it does rain, because there is more water in the atmosphere, it rains (or snows) harder.

HuffPost

By dawn on Tuesday, it was snowing pretty hard.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snowing hard" to vividly describe situations where the intensity of snowfall significantly impacts visibility or travel conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "snowing strongly" as it's less idiomatic than "snowing hard" or "snowing heavily". Focus on using the most natural-sounding adverb to convey intensity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "snowing hard" functions as a descriptive expression indicating the intensity of the snowfall. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to depict situations where the snow is falling with considerable force and volume.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "snowing hard" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe heavy snowfall. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the intensity of the snowfall, often implying difficult conditions. While "snowing heavily" is a close synonym, "snowing hard" holds its own as an idiomatic expression. From news reports to personal anecdotes, "snowing hard" vividly paints a picture of winter's force. When using this phrase, consider the context and aim to capture the impact of the intense snowfall on daily activities or the surrounding environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

snowing heavily

Replaces "hard" with the adverb "heavily", maintaining the core meaning.

heavy snowfall

Replaces the verb phrase with a noun phrase describing the event.

snow is coming down hard

Emphasizes the action of the snow falling with intensity.

a heavy snow is falling

Changes the structure to emphasize the falling snow as a heavy event.

snow is falling intensely

Changes the structure to emphasize the intense falling of snow.

intense snowfall

Substitutes "snowing hard" with a noun phrase and adjective, focusing on the intensity.

the snow is pelting down

Uses "pelting" to describe the forceful descent of the snow.

blizzard conditions

Refers to the overall weather state, implying very heavy snow and strong winds.

copious snowfall

Uses an adjective that describes a large quantity of snow.

it's dumping snow

An informal expression meaning it is snowing heavily.

FAQs

How can I use "snowing hard" in a sentence?

You can use "snowing hard" to describe the intensity of snowfall, for example: "It's "snowing hard", so the roads are dangerous" or "Despite it "snowing hard", we still went skiing".

What are some alternatives to "snowing hard"?

Some alternatives to "snowing hard" include "snowing heavily", "intense snowfall", or describing the conditions as "blizzard conditions" depending on the context.

Is it more correct to say "snowing hard" or "snowing heavily"?

Both "snowing hard" and "snowing heavily" are correct and commonly used. "Snowing hard" might be slightly more idiomatic in certain contexts, but the difference is minimal.

What does it mean when someone says it's "snowing hard"?

When someone says it's "snowing hard", they mean that the snowfall is very intense, leading to potential difficulties with visibility and travel.