In the United States, freezing rain quickly transformed the landscape into a glass world this week.

Branches, grass, and many other objects became delicate ice sculptures that glistened in the light. Thus, this rare weather event brought with it not only risks but also a quiet, fascinating beauty.

Put simply, freezing rain is rain that freezes immediately upon hitting cold surfaces – for example, roads, pavements or power lines. This requires ground and/or air temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.

In recent days, a powerful winter storm paralysed large parts of the United States. From Texas to New York, huge amounts of snow and ice were left behind.

The worst affected areas were parts of Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee. There, freezing rain covered the landscape and every object with a layer of ice more than a centimetre thick.