It wont short out in the snow... at least mine doesn't...
Well I don't really know that for sure, the hydro bill doesn't go up
and it doesn't pop fuses.
It just stops working when the snow piles up so high the racoons can
walk over it.

I went to Home Despot on the weekend and invested in some netting (six
bucks CDN) mostly for the leaves but also to add a bit of protection
until the ice forms...

(I believe in defense in depth)