Snowflakes Can Be Larger Than a Frisbee

The delicate, six-sided ice crystals we often associate with winter are merely the building blocks for much larger and more complex structures. The record-breaking snowflakes are not single, giant crystals but are instead known as "aggregate snowflakes." These form when weather conditions are just right—typically when the air temperature is hovering right around the freezing point. This causes the surfaces of individual ice crystals to become slightly moist and sticky. As they drift down through calm air, they collide and cling to one another, gathering into a fragile, sprawling mass.

This rare combination of factors is what led to the incredible observation at Fort Keogh, Montana, on January 28, 1887. A rancher reported seeing flakes "larger than milk pans" falling from the sky, an account which now stands as the official Guinness World Record. While a single, perfectly symmetrical crystal of that size is physically impossible, the 38-centimeter-wide clump he witnessed showcases the remarkable potential of these atmospheric aggregates. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most familiar weather phenomena can produce events that defy our everyday expectations.