Understanding What Makes Freezing Rain so Hazardous

While the Gulf Coast got hammered with a historic winter storm last week, it could have been substantially worse. Forecasters said that the region got lucky when the bulk of the wintry precipitation fell as snow or sleet. Widespread freezing rain could have resulted in even more lasting disruptions. Here is a look at why meteorologists often say that freezing rain is the worst type of wintry precipitation.

Understanding Freezing Rain

Freezing rain happens when the temperatures in the atmosphere are too warm for snow, however, the ground is at the freezing level. The moisture falls as straight rain but then freezes as it makes contact with the colder ground. The formation of ice can also happen when the rain makes contact with trees, vehicles, or any other surface that is at or below freezing.

How does freezing rain differ from sleet? Sleet tends to bounce when it hits the ground while freezing rain adheres to the surface. Unlike warm rain, freezing rain does not run off the surfaces that it touches.

This type of moisture is particularly dangerous because it is more difficult to forecast. It is also more challenging to spot since it begins as normal rain in its early stages. As such, it is not noticeable until the freezing rain begins to accumulate and form dangerous ice.

During the early stages of a freezing rain event, roads, bridges, and metal surfaces will begin to become coated with a thin layer of slippery ice. This type of ice is most commonly referred to as "black ice" because it is difficult to detect as it blends in with the road.

It is also common for snow to fall on top of the freezing rain as the temperatures dip. This combination is especially hazardous as the snow can work to hide the ice that formed prior to the temperature change. In addition, the ice under the snow makes it extremely challenging for vehicles to gain traction.

Power Outages More Common During Freezing Rain