Snow Still on the Ground in NY State?

Snow on the ground in the end of July? Evidence of November's record breaking snow storm in Buffalo and other parts of Western New York can still be seen even now. A dirt-covered pile of snow still hasn't completely melted since being dumped at an old Buffalo railroad station after November's record-breaking storm.

Although hidden from plain sight, two piles nearing ten feet high in some spots still remain. At first glance they appear simply as earthy mounds with grass growing on it. However if one were to dig away about one foot of soil which covers the pile, the compacted ice is still can be seen. According to WGRZ, the soil is what is keeping the pile from having disappeared entirely.

How does a mound of dirt and grass actually prevent the snow from fully meting even during he middle of the summer? Storm Team 2 Meteorologist Patrick Hammer explains

That pile of snow is like a glacier.It's very dense and it's covered in dirt and garbage, which acts to insulate the snow from the sun's rays. That's what melts the snow, not just the heat but the sun's rays, and it's protected. It's actually mostly melting from below…from the ground which has warmed beneath it.