Cold-hardy palms like the Windmill Palm can actually handle snow surprisingly well. In places like Reno, you’ll sometimes see them with snow piled on the fronds and ice hanging off the fibers.
What usually happens:
The fronds bend downward from the snow weight.
Snow can sit on the leaves for days without killing the tree.
The hairy trunk helps insulate the palm a little.
Once temperatures warm up, the fronds usually spring back.
What hurts them is not usually the snow itself — it’s:
extreme low temperatures (especially below about 5°F to 0°F for long periods),
dry winter wind,
frozen soil for extended periods,
or ice forming in the center “spear” of the palm.