Snow scatters light incredibly well

[bp2008]

It is hard to believe it is so light outside. This is a Dahua 2MP full color starlight tuned for long exposure, but still, it should not be this bright!!

It is 12:14 AM in this picture and it is snowing fairly heavily (which you don't see falling because there are no nearby light sources).



The moon is up, but not bright tonight, and besides, it is cloudy as heck.



The interstate highway is 3 miles away. See what it looked like the night before, when it wasn't snowing.

 

[bp2008]

For comparison, this is from a nearby mountaintop where it is also snowing. Not nearly as bright. But also 10+ miles further away from light sources.

 

[aesterling]

I’m always blown away how much brighter it is outside after a fresh snowfall! Makes me wish it was always like that because it’s so much easier to see outside, but then I come to my senses and remember I have to go shovel.