Now that winter is truly in its peak and the holidays have passed, why not make the best of this time of year—by learning about some fun and interesting winter facts?
As Old Man Winter continues to impact Grand Rapids residents with snow falls, high winds, and low temperatures, here is some information you may not have known about the current season.
A little salty. As an example of how brutal our country’s winters can be, the United States uses an eye-popping amount of ice for its roads every year. According to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York, more than 20 million metric tons of salt are used annually!
A white Christmas? Often, when folks describe snow, they talk about how white it is. But in reality, it isn’t white at all. Instead, it’s translucent. It only appears white since light reflects off of it. From now on, you can say you’re dreaming of a translucent Christmas?
Do you need a jacket or not? In January 1943, the residents of Spearfish, South Dakota, were likely very confused one day when temperatures suddenly dropped considerably. One moment, the temperature was as high as 45°F and then—27 minutes later—it had fallen to -4°F, a shocking 49°F difference. The cause? A swift Chinook wind!
Frosty the Snowman. How exactly should you build a snowman? Is wet or dry snow the most ideal? A physicist at Rhode Island College, Dan Snowman (truly his name) has determined a perfect snow-to-water ratio for building snowmen: five-to-one. In other words, for every 5 inches of snow, there should be 1 inch of water.
How close is the sun? Surprisingly, the earth isn’t closest to the sun during the summer. Instead, it’s closest in January! So, why are the temperatures so low this time of year? Well, the temperature decline is actually due to the earth’s axis (the direction it tilts), rather than its proximity to the sun. Now you know!
Identical twins. As a child, you were always taught that no two snowflakes are the same. But that actually isn’t true, at least not fully. In 1988, a scientist at the National Center for Atmosphere Research discovered two identical snowflakes, an extremely rare phenomenon.
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Did you know that snow falls at an incredibly fast pace? How fast? Depending on their weight, snowflakes can fall as quickly as 1 to 6 feet per second, an astounding rate.
Massive snowflakes. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the largest snowflakes ever reported were over 1-foot-wide and 8 inches thick. They were seen in January 1887 during a brutal snowstorm in the Missoula, Montana, area. Plenty of snowballs were definitely made after that storm!
Thunder in the winter? If you’ve lived in West Michigan for some time, you’ve likely experienced thundersnow at least once. If not, it’s certainly an interesting experience. Often occurring near bodies of water, thundersnow is one of Mother Nature’s natural wonders.
Vitamin D please! If you thought the days in Michigan are too short during the winter, you probably won’t want to move to Alaska anytime soon. After all, some areas of the state only have three to six hours of daylight each day throughout the winter, if that. Talk about a vitamin D shortage!
When you’re visiting with friends and relatives the next few weeks, consider sharing these facts. More than likely, they’ll be unaware of at least some of this information, leading them to learn more about this distinct, gorgeous season!
