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    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
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