Parts of our area experienced a unique phenomenon early this morning that isn't too uncommon in our area during the mid to late autumn: freezing fog! The name is pretty self-explanatory...it's fog that forms at temperatures near/below the freezing mark, allowing moisture to freeze on contact with cold surfaces such as tree branches and cartops. This can deposit a thin layer of ice (called "rime" ice) that mimics the type of ice you often see on the inside of a freezer...which often results in a beautiful seen once the fog burns off and the sun comes out! But rime ice has very low density, so it usually sublimates within a few minutes of the sun striking it.

Rime ice may be pretty to look at, but freezing fog can be somewhat dangerous as it can cause black ice to form on untreated bridges and overpasses. So the next time you're driving through fog and your car thermometer is reading 32° or lower...take it slow!