Freezing rain turns to ice the moment it touches a cold road or branch.

The longer version

Supercooled raindrops stay liquid even though their temperature is below the normal freezing point, because they lack a surface to start the freezing process. They fall through a shallow layer of cold air near the ground without turning solid in flight.

The moment one touches a road, a branch, or a wire that is also below freezing, it freezes on contact and spreads into a coating of clear ice. The coating thickens as more drops arrive, adding weight to trees and overhead lines and leaving hard, smooth surfaces underfoot. Even a thin layer changes the character of a surface completely.

Where this entry sits

Clouds, wind, rain, and storms shape daily life in ways that most people barely notice. This collection explains snow, lightning, rainbows, the turning seasons, temperature, the instruments forecasters rely on, and scraps of old weather lore. The full list sits on the Weather and Climate page, where every entry is listed in order.