When the snow temperatures and wind conditions are just right, something magical can happen. Natural snow formations called snow rollers can form, but they are extremely rare.
Snow rollers are usually cylindrical in shape, often hollow and as delicate as a snowflake. As the name implies, they are usually rolls, which makes the last image here of a snow rose even more precious and beautiful!
Snow roller in Krkonoše, in the Czech Republic
They are usually cylindrical in shape and are often called Nature’s snowballs because of the way they are formed.
The snow rolls are formed when chunks of snow end up rolling down hill or are blown along the ground (like an open field) by winds. The snow has to be just the right texture so it sticks together when blown by the wind. That means the surface layer of snow should be wet, light snow. Under this layer, there has to be a smooth surface (like ice) so that the wet snow won’t stick to it.
Gravity helps, and according to Weather.com, snow rollers can roll to the size of a car!
Rocky Mountain National Park, Perduejn
They can have delicate shapes too. This looks like a snowy flaky pastry or Swiss roll.
And this one looks like an icy rose!
Share these snow rollers with your friends and family, so if they are ever lucky enough to see one they will know they’ve witnessed one of nature’s rarest winter phenomena.
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