Snow Rollers !

[Sheila & Finnley]

Hello snow lovers ! Woke up this morning to a fairly rare snow phenomenon.

 

They are called Snow Rollers. They occur when a minor amount of snow has accumulated on top of an icy layer. Add strong winds that pull out chunks of the snow and ice, and move them along the snow. These winds also need to move in one basic direction. As the snow moves, layers of snow are built up on the outside. Since the top layer of snow is light, the snow in the middle of the roll can get blown out making the shape more tubular and hollow in the middle. Kind of like rolling a jelly roll. They were everywhere this morning and it was a very interesting sight.

 

Sorry the pictures weren't better, but they were melting quickly as the temps rose today. If you look closely you can see all the bumps in the field across the roadway. There were thousands of them !

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

really beautiful what nature can do!

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

cool pictures.  it looks like someone just threw a bunch of snowballs

[F, Calla & Luca]

Yes, but you can see the snowball tracks in the snow.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I wasn't doubting how they got there, I just thought it looked like someone threw them out there because it is crazy to think that nature can do that.

[Sheila & Finnley]

She probably means the first one. You really can't see the tracks in that one. :)

[Donna K & Quincy]

These are cool! Ready made snowballs! We get our fair share of snow and more than our share of wind but I don't remember ever seeing this phenomenon. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Very cool, Sheila!

[Sheila & Finnley]

I try Laurie ! :) smiley face... winky.... sparkles !

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I am losing faith in your blinky abilities!  I have seen this in nature before. This is what happens when owls and ospreys get in a snowball fight.

[Christine & Shelby]

LOL... Laurie... You crack me up!!!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

xoxo... What can I say? I just love you!

[Kyoko]

How beutiful.....