Unique snow rollers spotted in Manitoba

WINNIPEG — Manitoba can offer up variety of weather, especially at this time of year.

Over the weekend the conditions were just right for Nancy Wiebe of Morden to spot something that is quite unique. And thankfully she shared it with Global News.

While on a journey from Rosebank to Miami, Manitoba Wiebe spotted something particularly interesting.

In fact, you could call it a “meteorological phenomenon”.

Snow Rollers.

More or less giant snowballs created by Mother Nature all on her own.

It happens when large chunks of snow are blown along the ground by the wind. They pick up material as they go along and form into large snowballs.

They are found in many sizes. In fact Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell has seen them as large as boulders in Montana!

Wiebe’s were a bit smaller, but nonetheless very picturesque.

Conditions this past Sunday were perfect to help form these little snowballs.

We had temperatures well below freezing the evening before producing a cold surface temperature, then a quick dusting of snow on Sunday morning.

That, combined with a wind out of the west rolled them east on the south side of the highway.