A blanket of snow looks pretty, but ugly stuff is likely happening underneath.

Critical assets covered in snow are susceptible to corrosion. That’s because when snow melts, it covers the surface of equipment with a layer of water that just sits there. The result is an extended “Time of Wetness” (TOW) which is a major factor in corrosion.

That layer of water may re-freeze when the sun goes down, but it will be wet again as the temperatures rise during the day. That cycle will continue until all the snow has melted off and the equipment can fully dry.

The right protective cover - one that its both waterproof and hydrophobic - can mitigate corrosion by preventing melted snow from sitting on the surface of vehicles, weapon systems, aircraft, etc. Anything that melts sits on the cover, not on the equipment.

**Photo Courtesy Staff Sgt. Sharon Matthias**

A protective cover is especially important if your equipment has a turret. Melting snow seeps in around the turret and then you have issue on both the exterior and interior of your equipment. A cover prevents water intrusion from melting snow (and driving rain).

An important note is to make sure the cover you use is freeze-proof. At best a frozen cover can be extremely difficult to remove and store/stow. At worst it freezes to the asset and becomes impossible to remove.

So as we enter the snow season, make sure your assets are protected by the right cover and you’ll increase readiness, reduce unscheduled maintenance, and extend asset lifecycles.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.