What Causes the Different Types of Snow?

Snow comes in different forms because the water molecules that make up snowflakes can arrange themselves in many ways. When it’s cold, they form needle-shaped or plate-like snowflakes. If there are changes in temperature and humidity, they might grow into more complex shapes like stars or feathers. Think of it like building blocks, each snowflake is a unique design made from the same tiny pieces!

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Examples

  1. A snowflake falling from a cold sky might look like a flat plate.
  2. Another snowflake that passed through warmer air could look like a six-pointed star.
  3. Snowflakes that grew near other snowflakes might end up looking like tiny feathers.

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Categories: Environment · snow· weather· science