The greatest misconception about snow is the fact that no two snowflakes are alike. With several billions that fall each year, there is a high possibility that one can see two identical snowflakes, though the probability of getting two identical snowflakes remains low.

Snowflakes are formed through ice crystals. These ice crystals are as small as dust particles. When these crystals join up, they form into a snowflake. The size of a snowflake is actually dependent on the number of crystals in it.

Types of snowflakes

There are various types of snowflakes. Each has its own shape and dimension. Generally, snowflakes have six sides. Below are the different types of snowflakes.

Hexagonal plates: horizontal, flat

Irregular column

Needle

Stellar plate

Spatial dendrites

Capped columns

Other facts on snow

Snow is made of rain droplets. As long as there is not enough rain, a snowfall is very much unlikely to happen. The natural process of snow is the same as that of rain. It undergoes evaporation and precipitation.

Snow exists when the temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius. It can come from any cloud as long as the cloud is layered. Additionally, snowflakes become bigger when they are linked with other snowflakes.

The snow at the North and South Pole reflects off the heat into space. That is because the snow acts like a mirror. The heat is therefore deflected off into space.