The Mountain State is no stranger to frigid weather conditions in the wintertime. Outside of the higher elevations and the ski resorts, the average snowfall in West Virginia is in the neighborhood of 36 inches. But we don’t need to see snow to discover amazing climate-driven surprises on the landscape. Take the following phenomena that occur during the winter. Both rime ice and hoarfrost are simply astounding in both their beauty and origins.

Rime ice occurs when temperatures fall well below freezing and there is fog present, causing the fog to freeze. The result can be as fine as a tiny snowflake that gets encapsulated within a shell of ice made instantly by the freezing fog.
Flickr/Olga Sytina & Alexey Kljatov
Or in a flash, rime ice can cover a whole mountain in beautiful white treetops as each of the limbs gets encapsulated in a layer of frozen moisture (fog) clinging to each limb.
Flickr/John Holm
Up close, rime ice on the trees can take on a spiky appearance.
Flickr/J Brew

Related Stories

This Speakeasy Hidden In A Bed & Breakfast In West Virginia Is Perfect For A Date Night

This Speakeasy Hidden In A Bed & Breakfast In West Virginia Is Perfect For A Date Night

 One Of The Country's Most Impressive Rest Stops Is Hiding Right Here In West Virginia

One Of The Country's Most Impressive Rest Stops Is Hiding Right Here In West Virginia

 The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Reed's In West Virginia

The Whole Family Could Spend An Entire Day Having A Blast At Reed's In West Virginia
In addition to rime ice, which is a condition that occurs when fog freezes, there is also a phenomenon called hoarfrost. Unlike rime ice, hoarfrost is a result of moisture in the air freezing and clinging to plant life, such as on the stem of a plant near the ground. (Fog is not present when a hoarfrost occurs.) The moisture freezes and loosely attaches to an object and then the wind whips it into feathery swirls.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
Some call them 'ice flowers.' Hoarfrost is much harder to see since it's low to the ground. Usually, you'll find it only if you're hiking in cold (below freezing) temperatures combined with windy conditions.
Flickr/Tanya Impeartrice
Regardless of whether you're seeking rime ice or looking for the first sign of a hoar frost... the winter season in West Virginia brings with it gorgeous landscapes with a sweeping white glow. And now you know how a small part of that magical appearance occurs.
Flickr/Roy

Have you encountered rime ice or a hoarfrost flower yet this year?

Can’t wait for Old Man Winter to make another appearance in the Mountain State? Here are 15 images of breathtaking snow-covered landscapes to motivate and inspire you while you wait for that first big snow.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles