Freezing fog created a pretty scene this morning on February 1, 2011.
Rime Ice Covered Trees
Rime Ice Covered Trees
Rime Ice Coated Trees and Vines
Rime Ice Closeup
Closeup of Rime on a Dogwood Tree
Saw this years ago in the White Mountains on trees near the tree line (very stout trees). The crystals grew into the wind and made a spectacular scene when the sun came out.
[...] Comments admin on Nature’s Crystal ChandeliersEric on Rime IceOld Dominion Wildlife » Blog Archive » Donner on Christmas? on Christmas [...]
Eric, thanks for the comment. It was counterintuitive at first to me that the ice would grow into the wind, but it makes sense that it would build up in the direction the breeze is pushing the cloud droplets from. Not exactly sure why the spiky pattern forms… I guess new droplets are somehow attracted to the crystal once it starts?
[...] first time after buying cross country skis. My favorite weather event of the year was the unusual rime ice event of February 1st. The fall snow storm in October was also a [...]