In colder cyclones , small bands of heavy snow can occur with a width of 20 m to 50 m. These bands are linked with areas of frontogensis , or zones of strengthening temperature contrast . Within the cold sector north to northwest of a cyclone center , in colder cyclones , small scale , or mesoscale , bands of heavy snow can occur within a cyclone 's comma head precipitation pattern with a width of 20 m to 50 m. These bands in the comma head are associated with areas of frontogensis , or zones of strengthening temperature contrast .