SEATTLE — Winter is here and so is the beautiful, cold phenomenon that comes with it: snow.
Northwest Avalanche Center Meteorologist Robert Hahn describes the science behind snowflakes.
“To get the growth of a snowflake, you need to have nucleation,” said Hahn.
This is essentially crystal formation. Snowflakes form when water droplets attach to particles in the sky, like dust or pollen. This creates a six-sided shape.
The particles fall through different types of air, giving them each a unique shape, like a thumbprint.
“No two snowflakes have the exact same journey through the various temperatures and pressure regimes,” said Hahn.
The air particles that fall through will impact the shape they become. Warm temperatures tend to lead to longer shapes, like a needle. Colder temperatures create flat, plate-like snowflakes.
Hahn said the type of snow can impact avalanche risk. If the snowflakes are too cold and fall too fast, they don’t bond together fast enough, creating a weak layer of snow and the risk of avalanche.
Hahn’s office specializes in forecasting avalanche risk in the Cascades. The latest forecast can be found here nwac.us.
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