How is the intensity of snow determined when occurring alone?

The intensity of snow is primarily determined by the degree that it affects visibility. When observing snow, meteorologists assess how visibility is impacted, as significant reductions in visibility indicate heavier snowfall. For instance, visibility can be assessed in terms of how far one can see through the falling snow, which directly correlates to the intensity of the snowfall. Heavy snow typically reduces visibility substantially, while light snow has less of an effect.

While other factors, such as the rate of accumulation or whether the snow is showery or intermittent, can provide context about the snowfall event, they do not directly measure intensity as effectively as visibility does. The temperature of the dew point also plays a less critical role in determining snowfall intensity alone, as it relates more to humidity and moisture in the air rather than the direct effects of snowfall itself. Thus, visibility remains the primary indicator of snow intensity.