Narrative:

We relied on the information given on ATIS for our takeoff legality. ATIS information stated runway 4R 1/2 inch wet snow runway 31L 1 inch snow. Since some melting had occurred on runway 4R to reduce the snow cover to 1/2 inch, and snow is either wet or dry we concluded the snow on runway 31L was dry, since the temperature was stated to be 30 degrees F. In the future it would be helpful if ATIS stated wet or dry snow for each reported runway.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A WDB COMPLAINS ABOUT THE LACK OF DETAILS CONTAINED IN THE ARPT ATIS RWY CONDITION RPT.

Narrative: WE RELIED ON THE INFO GIVEN ON ATIS FOR OUR TKOF LEGALITY. ATIS INFO STATED RWY 4R 1/2 INCH WET SNOW RWY 31L 1 INCH SNOW. SINCE SOME MELTING HAD OCCURRED ON RWY 4R TO REDUCE THE SNOW COVER TO 1/2 INCH, AND SNOW IS EITHER WET OR DRY WE CONCLUDED THE SNOW ON RWY 31L WAS DRY, SINCE THE TEMP WAS STATED TO BE 30 DEGS F. IN THE FUTURE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF ATIS STATED WET OR DRY SNOW FOR EACH RPTED RWY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.