Snowflakes are delicate, fleeting wonders of nature, but did you know that the largest snowflake ever recorded was reportedly 15 inches wide? This extraordinary snowflake fell during a snowstorm in Fort Keogh, Montana, in January 1887, according to historical accounts.
While scientists haven’t been able to verify this claim, we do know that snowflakes can grow quite large under the right conditions. They form when water vapor freezes around a tiny particle in the atmosphere, and as the flake falls, it collects more moisture. Warmer temperatures close to freezing allow for larger, fluffier snowflakes, while colder conditions produce smaller, denser ones.
Even if you never see a 15-inch snowflake, each one is still a marvel of geometry—no two snowflakes are exactly alike, thanks to the countless variables in their formation.
