One thing we know about winter by living in the Northland:  Even though Mother Nature gives us an excess amount of cold temperatures and extra-large snow piles, we also get to enjoy the beauty that this season offers.  One of the phenomenons that is common in this part of the country is hoarfrost.  But, what exactly is hoarfrost?

For an answer, we turn to the experts at the American Meteorological Society.  Their explanation of hoarfrost is as follows:

A deposit of interlocking ice crystals (hoar crystals) formed by direct deposition on objects, usually those of small diameter freely exposed to the air, such as tree branches, plant stems and leaf edges, wires, poles, etc.

So in part, hoarfrost is a deposit of visible frost that appears on the surfaces of outside items - specifically those of a small diameter.  It usually appears when its cold and the humidity is up (I.E. there is excess moisture in the air).

To read more about hoarfrost, click here.

 

 

 

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