Winter Storm Fern Drops a Rare Snow Twister During Its Cross-Country Rampage

I took a couple of meteorology classes when I was a student at Western Kentucky University. I wish I'd taken more; it's an endlessly fascinating subject. Plus, some of the best academic minds I've ever been around were my instructors. They would have a field day with all that Winter Storm Fern has brought us.

Winter Storm Fern

They would do a deep dive into how big this system was, certainly, but then their eyes would light up, and there would be a lift in their voices at all the unusual weather phenomena that Fern brought with her. (You should have seen Dr. L. Michael Trapasso, my favorite, during hurricane season.)

So far, we've learned about "frost cracking" and "ice pillars." Today, it's something I may not have thought possible, only because I've said, on a number of occasions, "It's too cold for a tornado," or "It's too hot for a tornado." Well, Winter Storm Fern had a "snow twister" up her sleeve and put on a show for the folks in Texas.

Snow Tornado

And it was posted by a storm chaser, who must have been deliriously happy when he saw this.

I had no idea this was possible, mainly because these phenomena are considered incredibly rare. Matthew Capucci of MyRadar Weather Radar on Facebook explains that temperatures must be below freezing, and that you need an environment "characterized by upward-moving air pockets." He also told the story of a 2013 EF-1 snow tornado in Canada that consisted of snowflakes and ice pellets. Can you imagine?

After the December 2021 tornado, last March's historic hailstorm, and Winter Storm Fern, it's understandable if folks in this area are a little hyper-sensitive to severe weather phenomena.

But this one is rare. Really rare. I don't think it's one we need to worry about.