Snowfall in small section of Silverton has neighbors guessing
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SILVERTON, Ore. – If it looks like snow, feels like snow and falls like snow, then it must be snow, right?
Not always.
A small part of Silverton is covered in a snow-like substance that some neighbors think may be connected to a nearby meat products factory.
“It’s like a winter wonderland driving here, like you don’t see it, then all of the sudden it’s [all around],” said Emerald Peterson.
The snowy section of Silverton has a radius of only a few blocks near BrucePac Meats and Roth’s Supermarket.
“Where we live, halfway up to Silver Falls, we don’t have any of this at all,” said Sarah Matchniff.
“The steam’s freezing, that’s what it is,” said Al Kuenzi, whose theory is gaining traction through town.
KATU Meteorologist Rhonda Shelby cleared the air.
“When we’ve been cold for so long, objects on the ground that are colder than the surrounding air because of all this heat loss start to form what we call radiation frost,” said Shelby. “It almost looks like snow.”
Shelby said the radiation frost, also known as hoar frost, could be enhanced by the steam coming from the meat factory. It’s a more common occurrence on the East Coast, she said.
“It could be the smoke stack or any sort of added moisture coming from a different source. That would make sense,” Shelby said.
Whatever it is, the white stuff has neighbors talking.
“It’s somethin’ else!” said Kuenzi.
Radiation snow? What else might this factory cause. I had a very rare brain tumor that is suppose to be 1 in a million. I have heard of at least 10 others in a town of 10,000. Can this cause health issues? I wonder.
I'm sorry but 'snow' made from the steam from a meat packing plant just doesn't seem like it would be clean snow. Â I think of snow as pristine, fluffy, pretty stuff from the heavens not greasy stuff made from animal leftovers. Â Think about your kitchen when you make stew, after that steams awhile there is a residue on your stove. Â I could be wrong here, I hope I am, but it seems likely that the snow would have more than water in it!
Well, darn those hoars leaving their frost all over!
man made snow is better than no snow
Hoar frost? That sounds really strange.
Roths should capitalize on the vegan - calorie free "white meat" falling from the sky.
mmmmmm! If it's from the meat factory I hope it tastes like sausage!
Snow - the new white meat. It's what's for dinner.
That is the same stuff that is on the ground in Hillsboro area. It covers a large area from Costco to across the Sunset  Hwy over to Helvetia area.Â
I was driving down OR 224/212 in between Milwaukie and Damascus this morning about 8:30am. There was a light frost in almost all places, but within about a half mile of I-205, everything was completely covered in a light snow, and tiny, icy flakes were swirling all around in the air. Everything not moving (ground, roads, grass, trees, parked cars, buildings) was covered in a pretty good rime of white. There are no heavy steam-producing buildings in that area, although with all of the traffic on I-205 (which it was clearly concentrated around), I suppose the motor exhaust could have caused it.
It has been snowing all over Silverton actually. There isn't enough steam coming from Bruce Pac to cover all the area that it did.
I've seen it snow out of a pure blue sky! Perfect individual snowflakes.
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Of course, this was back in the '60's on the east side of the Cascades. Lows got down to 40 below zero. Three weeks when the daytime *highs* didn't get above 15 below zero.
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Still, I'll bet that small area of Silverton looked spectacular.
I hope we get snow here
@sortbait Not until I get back from Hawaii. I don't need any delays at the airport.
Well if snow is caused from falling moisture from the air, then this would be Snow artificially made. It is snow in a sense, not natural but man made.
It has been happening out here in Hillsboro as well, around the industry that is on NW Evergreen Parkway. Very beautiful to see.
The same thing happens all the time in McMinnville on tthe North end of town. It's the steam from the steel mill and Air Liquide plants. Everytime we get these cold air air inversions. It has been reported as "snow" on some of the other tv sations. All the locals know what ti is and is not . Not snow. Is steam freezing.
 @Mac99w very interesting
Its not just in Silverton either. Drove to Stayton today for Dr's appointment and all around Stayton and hwy 22 you can see the frost all over the vegetation and tree's. The moisture in the air freezes..  but it sure makes for a pretty scene, too bad I forgot the camera today.
@Khre'Riov Ael i-Mhiessan t'Rllaillieu It is all over the north side of Parret mountin here in Sherwood. And there is no factory miles away. It is the shade, blocking the sun rays, creating it. I think, the steam in Silverton etc. creates an acctual cloud in this conditions, acting just like the greenbelt of the mountin here. The south side of this mountin is clear of any white stuff, it takes two minutes walk down the hill on the other side and you are in the winter wonderland. The ground, pavements are covered with an inch tall snow/ice crystals, that looks like white flora, the trees and bushes are covered as well, but only about six-to eight feet high from the ground up. It is very beautifull , though.
"âItâs somethinâ else!â"Â That's what I'm thinking it is, too.
Meat snow, my favorite!
@A74R1Â Grilled!!