- Hi Jeff,
- I'm submitting digital pictures we took of "snow
rollers" which developed overnight on February 12, 2003 here in the
Greater Cincinnati area. I researched online to discover the following
information on this unique natural phenomenon: Created by strong winds
coupled with just the right snow conditions and temperatures, 'snow rollers'
look similar to jelly rolls with a hollow middle. This phenomenon is considered
rare both because of scant reporting and because mostly they been only
been observed in Anarctica, Alaska and the Canadian mountian regions. However,
more recently they have been reported in Kansas in 2000 and Colorado in
2001. Here is a list of recent reports:
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- Lake Wilson and Russell County, Kansas - December 2000
-
- Note: A State of Kansas Climatologist found other documented
cases in Alaska and Antarctica.
-
- Weld County, Colorado - January 2001
-
- Quebec Canada, February 2001
-
- It was truly amazing to awaken yesterday morning to see
these unique formations in our yards and fields all over the area. We had
wind gusts overnight averaging 25-50 mph.
-
- Enjoy the pictures! I would also be interested to find
out what changes in the weather are taking place for this to happen in
this area - for the first time in MY lifetime. Comments are welcomed!
-
- Sincerely,
Anna Webb
Loveland Ohio
-
-
-
- Solid Snow Rollers In Illinois
-
-
- From Clyde Hendricks
- Mt. Pulaski, IL
- 2-15-3
-
- Jeff,
-
- Just wanted to report snow rollers in my back yard (Mt.
Pulaski, IL) on 2/12/2002. We had 60+ mi/hr winds that day. I noticed
though that mine were not hollow and many had not been formed by rolling
in a straight line. Many had rolled in a small circle leaving yard wide
bare spots where they lay. These were in an area where winds should have
blown straight through moving them all in one direction. I am mystified
by this strange twist to a phenomenon not many have observed to start with.
Rolling in a circle explains why no hole could be seen (they may have
been hollow inside but I did not think to open one up as I had not read
the article on your site then). I have been kicking myself for not getting
my camera out before they all melted. Thanks for a great website to keep
us all wondering!
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