Of all the creepy weather-related phenomena we've discussed on this blog (lenticular clouds, the red rain of Kerala, mayor-eating groundhogs), I have never come across anything as bizarre as snow rollers.
I was blissfully unaware of their existence until approximately 8:30 this morning when I discovered these pictures from the National Weather Service.
According to Wikipedia:
"A snow roller is a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by wind, picking up material along the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made.
Unlike snowballs made by people, snow rollers are typically cylindrical in shape, and are often hollow since the inner layers, which are the first layers to form, are weak and thin compared to the outer layers and can easily be blown away, leaving what looks like a doughnut or Swiss roll. Snow rollers have been seen to grow as large as two feet in diameter."
I know it's just a natural phenomenon, but there's something about seeing them all lined up on the plain that really spooks me! Imagine waking up one morning to find your entire lawn covered in these things!
16 comments:
So cool! I had not known about that either. Thank you!
It's kind of like those sacks of dust rollin' round...
I love natural phenomena.
:D
It would be fun to climb in one and roll down a hill.
"Mayor eating groundhogs" XDD Snow Rollers... THAT'S SOO COOL!!!! :D
whoa weird wonder if there are any videos on it....:}
hey if any one sees one of these, you should spill some food coloring on it, grab a spoon and enjoy!!!!
hey York Blog, what sacks of dust???
I have a good recommendation for the next blog entry...about genetics and technology altering human evolution (and a man with an internet enabled ear on his arm). It's really cool, and I even did a report on it for class...how do I recommend the idea, though? An email address...or perhaps just the comment. Don't know...
Those are pretty awesome snow formations :) They look like snow burritos.
Whoa, these are uber-cool! Imagine (if it was possible) to climb into a snow roll and going for a ride in them. Haha :)
Anonymous: it's like when you watch those western movies and you see that dust whirl around the deserted town
mccincol: Please write more 'Chronicles of Eris Mclane'. It's so awesome!
It looks like a giant was playing in the snow. They are all so evenly placed and all the same direction almost like someone did it on purposes. I wish we got them at our house.
Oh . . . Is that what those things were last winter? Holy StarClan, they shut down all the schools and everything because they thought the snow rollers were some kind of concealed threat. LOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOL.
oh thanks York Blog!!! so Peacey you've seen these? that must have been interesting!:)
It almost seems like theyre alive
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