Freezing Rain

weather · ice · winter

Liquid the whole way. Unlike sleet or snow, freezing rain stays as actual water droplets all the way down from the clouds. It only becomes ice when it touches a surface, not before.

Supercooled surprise. The raindrops pass through air that is below freezing as they fall, but they stay liquid instead of turning to ice in the clouds. Scientists call this supercooled water.

Glaze ice coating. When freezing rain hits the ground, trees, power lines, or cars, it instantly freezes into a smooth, shiny layer called glaze ice that can get several centimeters thick.

Dangerous and heavy. The ice buildup from freezing rain can snap tree branches, knock down power lines, and make roads extremely slippery and dangerous for driving.