© Brian Bayliss/SWNS
Although they look as though they are sculpted by hand, they are in fact the product of the right balance between sticky snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. These incredible pictures show rare 'snow rollers' that formed in a British field during the recent snow storm
Although they look as though they are sculpted by hand, they are in fact the product of the right balance between sticky snow, strong winds and cold temperatures. These incredible pictures show rare 'snow rollers' that formed in a British field during the recent snow storm
Brian Bayliss, 51, works as a forestry contractor and was driving past a field he owned when he saw the usual snow formations, about 2 - 3ft in diameter and 2ft wide.
He thought that children had been playing in his field in Marlborough, Wiltshire, so went to take a closer look but was amazed to discover there wasn't a single footprint.
Brian took some pictures and sent them to a BBC weather expert who told him they were an extremely rare meteorological condition - known as Snow Rollers.
They are a rare meteorological phenomenon in which large snowballs are formed naturally as chunks of snow are blown along the ground by the wind.
As they move they pick up snow on the way, in much the same way that the large snowballs used in snowmen are made.
© Brian Bayliss/SWNS
In order for them to form, there must be a light dusting of snow on top of an icy layer on the ground, often on a hill with no protruding vegetation. The dusting needs to be just wet enough so that it can adhere to itself but not stick to the ground, according to the National Weather Service
In order for them to form, there must be a light dusting of snow on top of an icy layer on the ground, often on a hill with no protruding vegetation. The dusting needs to be just wet enough so that it can adhere to itself but not stick to the ground, according to the National Weather Service
Comment: And it's not just in Russia that this unusual behaviour of animals venturing into populated areas is occurring: