A photo (above) of snow rollers, taken in Paw Paw, Michigan, has sparked interest in the rare phenomenon in recent weeks. (Courtesy Janice Pantelleria) The peculiar formations inspired nicknames ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — WKBW-TV viewer Catherine Heath was on a winter hike and found this rare weather phenomenon called snow rollers. These can either form from high winds whipping along a snow ...

But as otherworldly as they sometimes look, snow rollers are simply a natural phenomenon that can occur in snowy and windy conditions — or rather, very specific snowy or windy conditions.