The snow strength developed by compaction depends on the properties of the snow, which depend on its temperature and water content—wetter, warmer snow compacts better than dry, colder snow up to a point where the snow is so wet that it lubricates the tire-road interface.
The degree to which snow can be compressed depends on its inherent characteristics, which are shaped by ambient conditions—temperature and moisture levels. As long as the snow is not excessively wet, warmer and more humid snow will compress more effectively than dry and cold snow until a threshold is reached where the snow's high moisture content impairs traction with the road surface.