Blogger: Br0ken_Author

When we think of winter, snow is the first thing that comes to mind. Its dazzling white color and the soft texture when it lays on the ground can bring the holiday spirit. 

Since I was a little kid, I loved snow and would find myself looking out my bedroom window for hours, always being in awe of the snow and the feeling of something magical. However, I never understood where the snow was coming from. In my mind, I just thought it would plop down from the sky or that those tiny snowflakes wondrously turned into piles of white dust. 

However, as I've gotten older, the answer to my question was more magical than fiction. 

You see, snow is a form of H2O and isn't a typical occurrence in nature; we usually see snow in colder temperatures and the season of the winter. 

Snow is formed when the drops of water that was formed from a cloud start to freeze at around 15 degrees Fahrenheit. This cold temperature allows the water to form into ice crystals whilst still roaming around the cloud. After a period of time, the ice crystals start to form together, and the weight causes the crystals to drop from their cloud.

The fascinating part is that this doesn't create snow and this next step can determine types of winter weather/formations.

The air surrounding the crystals must stick to a cooler temperature. If the air is warmer than the temperature of the crystals, it will melt and turn into something called "sleet". Sleet is when a mixture of rain and the ice crystals refreeze due to temperature change. However, when the air is cooler than the crystal's temperature, the ice crystals "will bond together forming large fluffy flakes" (nps.gov). These snowflakes will then pile up on the ground and soon become snow!

So, the next time you stare out your window with a cup of hot cocoa, wondering how the snow came to be and decorated the winter season, you should thank water!

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/snowform.htm

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/sleet/