You Can Make Real Snow
Cold Weather
Freezing temperatures are essential for making real snow. A snow gun breaks water into tiny droplets, which can freeze in the air and form real snow crystals before reaching the ground.
As a general rule of thumb, temperatures below 28°F (-2.2°C) are ideal for snowmaking. However, temperature isn't the only factor—humidity also plays an important role in determining when you can make snow and how good that snow will be.
Check out our snowmaking weather chart to see how temperature and humidity work together to create the best snowmaking conditions.
Residential Snow Gun
A quality snow gun is essential for making real snow. Creating snow requires water to be broken into tiny droplets and properly mixed with air, which means the nozzles, fittings, and connections must be precisely designed and positioned for optimal performance.
Backyard Snowstorm snow guns are professionally engineered to make snowmaking simple, reliable, and easy to operate. Our systems use components and technology found in commercial snowmaking systems around the world, giving you excellent snow quality and production without the cost or complexity of a full-scale resort system.
Explore our three sizes of Real Snow Making Machines to compare features, benefits, and find the right snow gun for your backyard.
Air Compressor
An air compressor is an important part of the snowmaking process. Compressed air helps break water into tiny droplets and creates the conditions needed for those droplets to freeze and form snow crystals.
Not sure what that means? Don't worry! Backyard Snowstorm snow guns are designed to be plug-and-play and can work with any air compressor rated at 5 CFM or more at 90 PSI.
Already have a compatible compressor? Great—you can use the one you have. If you need one, air compressors are readily available at most local hardware stores and online retailers.
Want to learn more about how snow forms and the science behind nucleation? Visit our Snowmaking Science page.
Looking for the right equipment? Visit our Recommended Equipment page to see air compressor options that work with Backyard Snowstorm snow guns.
*Pressure Washer
Most backyard snowmaking systems require a pressure washer to provide the high-pressure water needed to create properly sized droplets for snowmaking. The GPM (gallons per minute) rating of your pressure washer also plays an important role in how much snow you can produce.
As a general rule of thumb, a 1 GPM pressure washer can produce approximately 1 inch of snow per hour, while a 2 GPM pressure washer can produce approximately 2 inches per hour, and so on. Actual snow production will vary depending on weather conditions, snow gun setup, and the area being covered.
The amount of area each snow gun can cover will also vary based on its design and operating conditions.
*The Backyard Snowstorm Little Cloud Snow Gun does not require a pressure washer. It can operate using a standard garden hose, making it one of the simplest ways to get started with backyard snowmaking.
Hoses & Fittings
Hoses are used to connect your air compressor and pressure washer—or garden hose—to your snow gun. Having the right hoses, fittings, and connections ensures your system is easy to set up and ready to make snow.
Backyard Snowstorm offers complete snowmaking packages that include the hoses and fittings you need, making it easy to get your system up and running right out of the box.
Planning to use your own hoses? Check out our Adapter Information page to make sure you have the correct connections for your setup.
We Make It Easy to Get Started With Our
Snow Gun Packages
