HOAR FROST IN WAYNEDALE

On Wednesday, February 21, 2007 schools were closed because of a heavy fog. The fog was bad for travel but great for the development of hoar frost.

Hoar frost occurs when water vapor touches a very cold surface and freezes on it instantly. This can happen to the leaves and branches of plants, and will cover them with ice crystals that look like spiky fingers. The crystals occur in an intricate variety of forms–needles, cups, plates, fern-like and feather-like…depending upon the temperature at which they developed. It can also occur on other freezing surfaces such as soil and metal, and so can often be seen on cars.