Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    Your images: Icy window patterns

09:00
22 December 2022

Your images
Icy window patterns

Icy works of art on a windscreen in Portlaoise, Ireland.
Icy works of art on a windscreen in Portlaoise, Ireland. - © Kenneth Jones

Amidst the cold last week, our cars, amongst all else, became glittered with frost and ice.

There are two main reasons that you car might need scraping when it's cold out, and that's because of a hoar frost, or frozen dew.

We recently shared this article, explaining the differences between hoar frost and frozen dew, with the frozen dew variety known to produce dazzling works of art on our windscreens.

Kenneth Jones shared the above photo with us of the beautiful ice patterns on his windshield in Portlaoise, Ireland. Dave Edkins also shared his window in North Wales below. You can share your images with us too, via our dedicated uploader!

What causes these patterns?

Firstly, the temperature of the surface must be sub-zero, and there must also be the presence of moisture, but also tiny imperfections on the glass.

These imperfections may be specks of dust, salt, residue from your windscreen washer, or even small scratches, which then allow these patterns to form as they affect the way the ice crystals branch out.

Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
A sudden change in weather for Europe. Thunderstorms & tornadoes. . . Thursday, 2 July 2026
Split image showing a dramatic supercell thunderstorm with a lowering cloud base over farmland on the left, and a Europe lightning map on the right with dense lightning strikes and a thunderstorm warning symbol across central and southeastern Europe.
Thursday, 2 July 2026

Thunderstorms & tornadoes

A sudden change in weather for Europe
Summer in full flow. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 5 July 2026
Split image showing golden crepuscular rays streaming through sunset clouds over the countryside on the left, and glowing blue noctilucent clouds above silhouetted trees and traffic lights at twilight on the right.
Sunday, 5 July 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Summer in full flow
June temperature record broken again. Three days running. . . Friday, 26 June 2026
Temperature map of eastern England showing extreme heat around Ipswich and nearby areas, with temperatures reaching 36°C near Cambridge and a large red thermometer icon highlighting intense heat.
Friday, 26 June 2026

Three days running

June temperature record broken again
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday, 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday, 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList