WinSport's snowy slopes created using thousands of litres of water per minute

LISTEN | WinSport's Ian Newcombe explains the science behind the park's snow-making process:

Calgary Eyeopener4:46WinSport snow

The snow is flying around Calgary this week, and some of that snow didn't come from the sky. We hear how WinSport's human-made snow flakes are made.

Temperatures in Calgary are staying below zero and the snow that blanketed the city is expected to stick around.

While the majority of the white stuff fell from the sky, some of it was produced at WinSport, which operates the city's ski hill.

Ian Newcombe, the park's manager of venues, told CBC'sCalgary Eyeopenerthe facility puts about12,113 litres (roughly 3,200 gallons) of water a minute on the hill.

"We've been out there making snow for about 50 straight hours," he told host Loren McGinnis. "This amazing cold forecast has come through and we have everything going full blast over here."

The human-made snowflakes, he said, replicate the real ones that are out in the atmosphere and are not just frozen droplets.