Snow Rollers

Under the right combination of snow, wind, temperature, and moisture, snow rollers can form. They form when strong, but not too strong, winds blow light and sticky snow into a roll to create large, cylindrical, and usually hollow snowballs. When strong wind is not present, gravity has been known to help snow rollers form on a hill. These have also been called snow bales as they can look like snowy bales of hay.