See how snow is made at WinterFest

BY AMANDA LUGENBELL

Have you ever wondered how snow is formed? It’s a question best answered by a weather expert, and it just so happens that one will be joining in the fun at Blowing Rock WinterFest. Brad Panovich, Chief Meteorologist for WCNC Charlotte, will host a snow-making demonstration in Memorial Park on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Brad built a snow gun himself, and under the right conditions, the device will create a visible cloud of snow. Brad kindly answered some questions about the snowmaking rig he’ll bring to Memorial Park.

When did you first make the snowmaking rig?

“So I made my very first snow gun about 16 years ago. It was my very first YouTube Video as well! Then, about 10 years ago I upgraded and built what’s called a Combo gun which added more nozzles and more water and air to produce more snow.”

What are the ideal conditions for the snow gun to create snow?

“The best conditions are cold but also very dry. One thing people forget is dry air allows for evaporative cooling. So Air temperatures below 28 are perfect but also, dewpoint in the teens or lower is ideal. The colder and drier it is, the more volume or fluffiness of the snow you make, just like in nature.”

What natural process does the snow gun demonstrate?

“It demonstrates the process of making supercooled water like in a cloud. Supercooled water is water below freezing but still liquid, looking for an object or condensation nuclei to start the freezing process. This happens on contact with the other particles of moisture from the snowmaker. So the cloud you see is like an actual cloud, and the snow falls out of it to the ground.”

Brad is always happy to talk about weather, so be sure to stop by to check out the snowmaking demo and ask him about winter. All activities in Memorial Park are free to attend.