Book 7, Question 49
Why Do Ice Storms Coat Everything in Glass?
An ice storm happens when rain freezes the moment it touches something cold. It paints every branch, wire, and road with a smooth layer of ice that looks like glass. It is pretty, but it can be very heavy and very slippery.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 7
More fun facts
- Freezing rain starts as rain in warm air high up, then falls through a thin layer of freezing air near the ground.
- The drops stay liquid until they hit something below freezing. Then they freeze on contact.
- The ice coating is called glaze.
- A half inch of ice on a tree branch or power line can add hundreds of pounds of weight.
- In the worst ice storms, towers hundreds of feet tall can crumple under the weight of ice.
- Ice storms often cause more damage in cities because there are so many power lines, roads, and vehicles.
Sources: Purdue
Questions kids ask
What is the ice from an ice storm called?
It's called glaze.
How heavy can ice get?
A half inch of ice can add hundreds of pounds to a branch or power line.