So, this is a phenomenon I call snow rollers. When the wind is strong enough & snow is just the right consistency, the wind starts pushing the snow into little cylinders that get bigger and bigger with each rotation. So cool. #photography #snowhour #snow #winter #GreyCounty - ThreadSky

mbug.bsky.social • 13 days ago

So, this is a phenomenon I call snow rollers. When the wind is strong enough & snow is just the right consistency, the wind starts pushing the snow into little cylinders that get bigger and bigger with each rotation. So cool. #photography #snowhour #snow #winter #GreyCounty

Comments

johnmillerman.bsky.social•12 days ago

The snow invented the wheel

mbug.bsky.social•12 days ago

I like that thought ❄️

spendiac.bsky.social•13 days ago

I've only seen them twice in 30 years. They are really fun.

jamesanthony.bsky.social•13 days ago

I've never seen these with a hollow core before

mbug.bsky.social•10 days ago

Crazy right? There's a lot of cool videos on YouTube.

kbroquard.bsky.social•13 days ago

TIL about snow rollers. I grew up in a snowy area and don’t remember these at all. Very interesting

mbug.bsky.social•10 days ago

The conditions need to be perfect. Wind, snow quality, base a little icy, etc.

zintkala-ska.bsky.social•10 days ago

Wow! 😲 All my decades with snow, I never saw this. Thank you for sharing something new with me when I didn't think there was anything else to learn about it. 👍

mbug.bsky.social•9 days ago

My pleasure! I hope you go check out the YouTube videos people have posted about snow rollers, so you get to see them in action!

kitmayfield-art.bsky.social•12 days ago

I had one on my car once

mbug.bsky.social•12 days ago

Awesome! ❤️

davesadventures.bsky.social•13 days ago

Love these things! Don't see them often!

1littlendian.bsky.social•12 days ago

I've seen a lot of snow in my 7 decades but never seen these!
I think they must be a Canadian phenomenon, hope the idiot doesn't find out about them and impose a tariff as part of the competing auto industry :(
Bit of sun here today -

mbug.bsky.social•12 days ago

Do a YouTube search, some cool videos out there, and the rollers happen everywhere if the conditions are right. ♥️

riandraegon.bsky.social•13 days ago

Isn’t the world phenomenal?

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Takes my breath away sometimes. ♥️

emwhitley.bsky.social•13 days ago

I have never seen nor heard of such a thing. How fascinating to find.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

If you look on YouTube, you can find actual videos of them forming and on the move!

emwhitley.bsky.social•13 days ago

thanks, I'll do that

frankmyerscreative.bsky.social•13 days ago

Tumblesnow

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Love it. ♥️

ubertar.bsky.social•13 days ago

That works for today's #FebruArty prompt, "rings" too...

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Oh, you're right! I can't keep up it seems 😉♥️

kandawoodworks.bsky.social•12 days ago

Reminds me of tumble weeds except these accumulate in size.

mbug.bsky.social•12 days ago

Accurate imagery! ❤️

theuniverse1959.bsky.social•13 days ago

That’s amazing. I’m a snow aficionado (Montana) and I had never seen this before.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

YouTube has some cool video footage of them. ❄️

tomvdwal.bsky.social•13 days ago

Never seen this.

bluebirdskyphoto.bsky.social•13 days ago

Fascinating and cool

cockaynejones.bsky.social•13 days ago

Snow doughnuts?!

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_roller and yes Wiki says they're also called snow donuts!

cockaynejones.bsky.social•13 days ago

!! I had never seen or heard of snow rollers. Amazing!

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Neither had I until I saw them rolling last year and stopped in my tracks to try to get good shots but failed. I thought I was hallucinating, lol.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Lol, could be! They're more cylindrical but I like your thinking! Insert Homer Simpson gif here. 😉

sdcushing.bsky.social•13 days ago

Ask and you shall receive.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

lol ♥️

sdcushing.bsky.social•13 days ago

😂 you probably didn’t mean literally 🥰

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

I'm always up for a Homer gif.

cockaynejones.bsky.social•13 days ago

Had to Google the HS reference!

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Lol, sorry!

cockaynejones.bsky.social•12 days ago

When I told my husband about your wonderful photograph and all the comments I suddenly remembered Polo mints from when I was young! Snow mints!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo_(confectionery)

mbug.bsky.social•12 days ago

Love it! ❤️ 😉

comingorgoing.bsky.social•13 days ago

very cool. how big are these? hard to tell from the pic.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Well they all vary, but most start out about a foot to 18" and grow as they roll along. Depending on the conditions, they can be much smaller or bigger. Sometimes you'll see a whole field full of them, just rolling 👀. It's weird and cool.

comingorgoing.bsky.social•13 days ago

oh wow! i expected you to say no bigger than a hand, thinking they would at least start out small. that is very cool. never even heard of such a thing. it would be quite a sight, seeing a whole field of these rolling along.

mbug.bsky.social•10 days ago

I just read today that some can be as big as cars! Lol, new fear unlocked.

comingorgoing.bsky.social•10 days ago

😬 holy cow. no thanks! it would make a hell of a B movie, though!

mbug.bsky.social•10 days ago

No kidding. I think those must be in the mountains. I've only seen laundry basket sized rollers.

mbug.bsky.social•13 days ago

Well, it's like when you build a snowman, it starts out small and gets bigger as you roll it and it gathers more snow. What kills me is how big the hole in the center is, like how does it maintain that shape?