Snowflakes form when water vapor freezes to a particle of dust, pollen, or other matter in the clouds. As this tiny particle of ice moves through the clouds, more water vapor freezes into it. Eventually, this …

Dec 19, 2016 · Q: How are snowflakes formed? A: A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. As the ice …

Dec 11, 2025 · We’ve all heard that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. Learn more about how snowflakes form and why they can take on so many different shapes and qualities.

Jan 23, 2026 · American University Department of Physics Professor Nathan Harshman explains the hidden science inside every falling snowflake, from the formation of ice crystals to the atmospheric …

Why are snowflakes all different? Check out our mini science series on snowflake growth!

Feb 9, 2026 · Did you know snowflakes start out as dust? Or that snow isn’t actually white? We’re digging into the biggest scientific mysteries surrounding one of winter’s most magical phenomena.

Have you ever wondered why snowflakes have the shapes they have? Did you know that their shapes tell the story of how they formed? Snowflakes start to form when cold water droplets grab onto dust …

Snowflakes form when water vapor in clouds condenses immediately to ice (a process called deposition, meaning a liquid phase change is skipped) around a small particle, like dust. Because of water's …

Feb 15, 2025 · Snow is made up of trillions of tiny ice crystals to make snowflakes, with not one alike. Here's how they form.

Dec 22, 2025 · A snowflake is formed by adding molecules one layer at a time. Every layer depends on the exact state of the environment at that moment, hinging on thousands of microscopic variables.