Star-Shaped Snowflakes Spotted During Winter Storm Juno

As Winter Storm Juno bears down on the East Coast, reports are surfacing of star-shaped snowflakes. At around 2 p.m. ET, weather.com spotted the unique snowflakes in midtown Manhattan.

While it looks like magic, there is a scientific explaination behind the phenomenon.

“If snowflakes stay separated from each other like you see in these photos, and if you look closely enough, you can sometimes see the structure of snowflakes with your naked eye,” weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce says.

“There are many different types of crystal patterns and these star-shaped snowflakes are just one example. The dendrite, a star-shape with varying patterns, is the most common shape of a snowflake.”

For those who want more information about the different types of snowflakes, Dolce recommends the website snowcrystals.com. The site lists at least 35 different types of common types of snow crystals.  

Reports of the star-shaped snowflakes came from as far as New Jersey and New York’s Westchester County. Click through the slideshow above for more photos of the the star-shaped snowflakes. 

Are you seeing ‘stars’? Share your photos with us. Text JUNO to 99000 on your mobile phone, or upload here directly. 

MORE FROM WEATHER.COM: Images of Winter Storm Juno