An improved snowmaking machine and method for producing artificial snow is provided, whereby a moving airstream at or below freezing temperature which is created by a motor-driven fan within a cowling is passed through an inwardly tapering conical collar attached to the downstream opening of the cowling, and water droplets are sprayed into the airstream from a plurality of nozzles distributed around an arc of preferably about 190 to 300 degrees around the opening defined by the conical collar. A mixture of water and compressed air is injected into the airstream downstream of the point the airstream exits the conical collar.