IF snow is on the forecast and you’re needing to blow off some steam – you’ll need these three essential tips on rolling the perfect snowball.
Snow scientists told The Sun that to perfect the art of snowball making, you’ll need to be aware of a trio of critical factors: the temperature, depth of snow and technique.
Temperature
The perfect snowball requires the perfect type of snow.
And for the ideal type of snow, you need to right temperature.
Dr Andrew Schwartz, Lead Scientist and Manager in the Central Sierra Snow Laboratory at UC Berkeley, told The Sun: “Typically, for the perfect snowball, you want temperatures around -1C to 2C (31F to 34F) so that the snow is moisture laden and sticky.
“Generally, early season or late season snow tends to be best because it falls in a warmer, moisture rich atmosphere compared to snow in the middle of the winter that can be cold and dry that results in it not compacting well.”
If you start with powdery snow, a ball will fall apart.
But start with slushy snow and it will turn into a fistful of ice.
Kenneth G. Libbrecht, Professor of Physics at Caltech University added that “temperature is the most important” factor when it comes to rolling the perfect snowball.
“When the snow is cold, the ice crystals do not stick together well, so the ball often just falls apart,” he explained.
“So the best time to have a good snowball fight is when the temperature is just below freezing.”
Depth of the snow
If you have more than a few inches of snow, skip the snow on the very top.
The snow just beneath the surface is the best, as it has already been packed together gently.
Technique
If you have been blessed with the perfect type of snow and can even get the good stuff from underneath, then slip on some gloves and get rolling.
According to Dr Schwartz: “Gloves typically work best because they prevent your hands from melting the snow as you pat it.
“There’s no real optimal way of patting/compacting it, just whatever makes a ball.”
However, if the snow is too powdery, warming it slightly with your bare hands can be useful, Dr Libbrecht added.
“In cold conditions, people often take off their gloves and use their hands to warm the snow so it sticks,” he continued.
“This works, as long as your hands can provide enough heat.”
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Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
