If a crystal has started forming in a column growth regime, at around -5 C, and then falls into the warmer plate-like regime, then plate or dendritic crystals sprout at the end of the column, producing so called "capped columns".

Magono and Lee devised a classification of freshly formed snow crystals that includes 80 distinct shapes. They are listed in the following main categories (with symbol):
* Needle crystal (N) - Subdivided into: Simple and combination of needles
* Columnar crystal (C) - Subdivided into: Simple and combination