5 Fun Facts about Snowflakes 🧊❄️

Did you know that every snowflake is unique because of the specific atmospheric conditions it encounters when it falls?

1. Inside clouds, water vapor condenses around any particles in the air (like dust or pollen) to form tiny ice crystals. Then, as the crystals fall to the ground, they encounter different microenvironments of varying temperatures and humidity levels, which affect the crystals' shape and how they continue to form into snowflakes. Even the smallest differences in temperature or humidity can result in big changes to the snowflake's final form. Because each snowflake’s path is unique as it falls or gets blown about by the wind, that’s how we end up with so many beautiful and unique patterns and shapes!

2. The hexagonal patterns come from water’s molecular structure, and the way water molecules bond when they freeze.

3. There are 35 types of snowflake shapes! These include column, plane, combination, and rimed crystals, as well as other types of aggregation or precipitation. You can see a full run-down here!

4. The largest snowflake ever recorded was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick! It was found in Montana in 1887! You can read more about it here.

5. Like we mentioned before, the temperature plays a crucial role in shaping the snowflake. Colder temperatures produce simpler shapes, while temperatures that are just cold enough to promote freezing produce more beautiful and complex designs.

I can’t wait for the next time it snows to catch some snowflakes!