December 06th, 2016

So badly wanted to be out there getting close-ups of beautiful,  giant, green trees with snow covered branches and pictures of birds & animals in the snow but have learned to be satisfied (some what) with photos I'm able to capture.

When I was younger, we would get so much snow we could make igloos, snow angels, and of course snowmen, but over the years it seems like we don't get as much snow on the coastal ground any more. It's amazing how these little frozen flakes can give people of any age fun and excitment.

Here are some interesting snow facts from http://unofficialnetworks.com/2013/08/10-snow-facts-you-may-not-know

10 Things You May Not Know About Snow
1.  An average snowflake is made up of 180 billion molecules of water.
2.  Around 12% of the Earth’s land surface is covered in permanent snow and ice.
3.  Each year an average of 105 snow-producing storms affect the continental United States. A typical storm will have a snow-producing lifetime of two to five days and will bring snow to portions of several states.
4.  All snowflakes have six sides.
5.  Rochester, New York is the snowiest large city in the U.S., averaging 94 inches of snow a year.
6.  Chionophobia is a fear of snow.
7.  Snow is actually colorless. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed uniformly over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance.
8.  People buy more cakes, cookies and candies than any other food when a blizzard is in the forecast.
9.  A blizzard occurs when you can’t see for 1/4 mile. The winds are always 35 miles an hour or more. The storm must last at least 3 hours to be classed as a blizzard. If any of these conditions are less, it is only a snowstorm.
10. The average snowflake falls at a speed of 3.1 miles per hour. (5 kilometers)

Here are some additional sites to check out about snow facts:

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-fascinating-facts-about-snow.php

http://mentalfloss.com/article/61089/15-incredibly-cool-facts-about-snow

http://americanprofile.com/articles/snow-facts/

It's always neat and beautiful to see snow on the mountains and trees but unfortunately it usually comes with cold weather that freezes our Oregon roads causing unsafe driving conditions. So please drive safe everyone :)