The type of snow you need for your snowman depends on a number of factors, including what type of snowflake falls and the temperature. Wet and moist snow that falls when the air temperature is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for building your perfect snowman.
Cold weather makes snow heavier and drier, and the water particles freeze into crystals more quickly. Freshly fallen wet or moist snow is typically shaped like classic branching snowflakes, called dendrites. This gives snowflake crystals lots of surface area for the watery glue to bind with.
If the snow you're using isn't dense and moist enough, you won't be able to pack it into balls or clump it together with other pieces to make your snowman look like a real person. To get the right consistency of snow for a solid, sturdy snowman, scoop up a handful of it and test out its ability to form a ball.
Once you've found the perfect snow, it's time to build your snowman! Find a flat, shady spot where the snow won't melt too fast.
Start by rolling a snowball into a ball that's two-thirds the size of your snowman's head. Roll this snowball to the ground and continue adding to it until you reach the right shape.
Stack the snowballs on top of each other, aiming for a 3:2:1 ratio for your base, torso and head to maximize your snowman's stability. Add more snow as needed, and slightly flatten the top before you add your next snowball to the mix.
