Freely translated from KvällsPosten
The unusual phenomenon of snow-ice balls has once again appeared on the island’s southern tip. “They varied in size. Some were as big as tennis balls and others like volleyballs” said Göran Andersson, ornithologist and guide at the Ottenby Bird Observatory. It is not often this phenomenon is spotted in Sweden. It was last observed was on 18th December 2009.
These snow-ice balls probably formed in connection with the weather on 11th February. After a period with mild temperatures a low pressure system set in and temperatures dropped. In addition, the wind increased considerably.
“This is a natural process where the wind formed and rolled the snowballs into the shore zone in the shallow water which then built up layers of ice” says George Anderson.
When the water receded snow-ice balls froze solid froze solid at Kapellvilken on Ölands southern tip.
Snow-ice balls rolled naturally by the wind on Öland Photo: Göran Andersson
The current set of snow-ice balls were not as large and as well-formed as in 2009.
Snow-ice balls in 2009: image Ottenby Bird Station
Tags: Öland, natural snow-ice ball, Snowball, Sweden, wind-blown snowball
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