Snow Rollers

Yesterday, following our various days of freezing weather and snow accumulations, a warm and windy day fell upon our valley.  While driving home, I began to notice that the mix of wind and warming temperatures had filled some open fields with snow rollers. 

I have seen snow rollers only a couple of times in my life.  A perfect combination of light, sticky snow, slightly above freezing temperatures and ground winds are required to peal a layer of snow and roll it across the landscape.  The rollers often form with a hole in the center and look rather like an upright doughnut.

Posted are two photographs that I took with my Droid about a mile from my house.

 

 

--Mitchell Hegman