What are snow donuts and how are they formed?

Rolling pin or snow donuts

Image - elzo-meridianos.blogspot.com.es

If you are one of those who enjoy going for a walk or playing sports in the snowy mountains, you may have been lucky enough to see the snow donuts. And I say perhaps because it is a very strange meteorological phenomenon, which occurs only in very specific conditions.

Some have been found that, in addition to being rare, had reached a considerable diameter: about 70 centimeters. But, How are they formed?

What are snow rollers or donuts?

Donuts or snow rollers

When we go to a mountain or a snowy landscape, we will probably spend a little time making a snowball. The little ones especially love to play with them, throwing them at adults for fun. Well, the snow donuts they are basically rollers, usually hollow, that have been formed naturally in the way that we will tell below.

They are so strange and so curious, it's easy to be surprised to see one. If they are ever seen, the opportunity to photograph them cannot be missed 😉.

How are they formed?

So that they can form these conditions must be met:

  • The temperature should be around freezing.
  • Snow has to condense easily.
  • The winds must be blowing hard.
  • And, in addition, the terrain has to have a certain slope.

At the moment, on the Internet there are more photos of these phenomena formed in North America, but in reality they can be seen anywhere with the conditions mentioned, it can become the set of some curious donuts.

 Snow Donuts Video

Finally, as we do not know when or where these phenomena will re-form, I am going to leave you with a video so that, at least, you can see them and almost feel that you are there. Enjoy it.

Have you ever heard of this meteorological phenomenon?


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