Snow does fall in Manchester during the winter months, though significant accumulations and heavy blizzards are relatively infrequent compared to regions with harsher alpine or continental climates. Because of the United Kingdom's temperate maritime climate, winters in Manchester are typically characterized by cold, damp weather, rain, and sleet rather than deep, persistent snowdrifts. When winter storms sweep across the British Isles from the Atlantic, the city occasionally experiences picturesque snow flurries that dust the parks and rooftops, though temperatures frequently hover just above freezing, causing snow to melt rapidly or turn into slush before long-term accumulation occurs.