Related video: When can we expect snow in Southern Colorado?

(COLORADO) — There’s been a lot of buzz recently about when we’ll see our first snowfall of the season here in Colorado Springs and into the lower elevations, but before that happens, it’s worth breaking down what actually needs to occur for snow to form. There are three key ingredients needed for snowfall: cold air, moisture, and lift.

The first ingredient is cold air. This typically arrives from the north in the form of Arctic or Canadian air masses. When the jet stream dips southward, it allows that colder air to flow into our region, creating the chilly conditions necessary for snow to develop instead of rain.

The second ingredient is moisture. Cold air alone isn’t enough; there needs to be water vapor in the atmosphere for snowflakes to form. That moisture can come from the Pacific Ocean or even the Gulf of Mexico, depending on how the jet stream and different high and low pressures are positioned. Certain storm setups allow that moisture to be drawn into Colorado, mixing with the cold air already in place.

The third and final ingredient is lift. Air must rise for it to cool, condense, and eventually form snowflakes. Lift can occur in a few ways, such as through upslope flow along the Front Range, jet stream dynamics, or approaching weather fronts that force air upward.

All three of these ingredients, cold air, moisture, and lift, have to align at the same time for snow to fall. So far, we haven’t quite seen that perfect setup yet. Until then, we’ll continue to enjoy the fall weather as we wait for those first flakes of the season.