Why Do Ice Storms Coat Everything in Glass?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi, curious kids! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do ice storms coat everything in glass?

The Big Idea

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.

Warm Air Above

Step one: warm air sits above. High up, a layer of warm air melts falling snow into raindrops. So raindrops start to fall.

Cold Air Below

Step two: cold air waits below. Close to the ground, the air is below freezing. The raindrops cool down but stay liquid. We call them supercooled. They are ready to freeze the instant they land.

Ice Glazes Everything

Step three: ice glazes everything. When the drops touch a branch, wire, or road, they freeze on the spot and build up a clear coat of ice. The weight can snap tree limbs and power lines.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at an ice storm! The warm layer melts snow into rain. The cold layer near the ground makes it supercooled. And the glaze of ice builds up on everything it touches.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Ice adds a lot of weight, so branches and power lines can snap. Roads, steps, and sidewalks become very slippery. Never touch a fallen power line. Stay far away and tell a grown-up. The safest way to admire an ice storm is from indoors, through a window.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, watch the ice storm from inside, through a window. Take pictures of the shiny glaze on branches. Draw what you see. Then ask: why does supercooled rain freeze the instant it lands?

Outro

Pretty ice can be risky, so enjoy it from indoors. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!