My Life As A Flake

Here in Ohio, snow is not just an occasional event in the winter; it's a way of life. If you live anywhere around the snow belt (Toledo, Cleveland, Youngstown, etc.), you see "lake effect" snow that is produced from cold air whipping south and east over the Great Lakes, the result of which is to produce snow by the bucketful as the winds pick up slightly warmer air from the lakes and convert it into snow. Lots of snow. If you're a snow fan, yippee! After 40 years living around it, ehhh -- not so much.

But, witness the beautiful snowflake. A perfect crystal structure. What we see for the brief moment on our gloves or coat is beautiful, if fleeting. Also very, very small. What do these structures look like close up? I'm glad you asked. SnowCrystals.com has the scoop on snowflakes, and the close-up views are fascinating. Plus, they even go the home-brew route and grow their own flakes in the lab!

NOAA Question of the Month: What is Lake Effect Snow?

Snowflakes and Snow Crystals