Rime frost takes over many areas of Sask., making for picturesque view

Many parts of Saskatchewan woke up to quite the scenery Sunday morning.

Rime frost has taken over trees and other objects across the province, and Dave Carlsen from Environment Canada explained more about the wintery formations.

“(Rime frost is) liquid from the fog or the low cloud being deposited on the trees and all the objects around. Usually, when it’s below freezing, we think ‘Ok, all of that stuff is frozen,’ well, nope,” he explained saying that the liquid in fog and low clouds can exist in liquid form well below freezing.

“When it touches stuff, though usually it instantly freezes to that. And so you see these beautiful formations of ice, and that’s rime icing.”

Carlsen said there is another nasty side of rime frost.

“Especially if it gets heavy… if it gets deposited a lot onto powerlines or even if it’s heavy enough on tree limbs, it can snap them or snap the powerlines or bring them down,” he said, adding that it’s also dangerous for aviation.

With winds coming in tomorrow to the province, Carlsen said to enjoy it while it lasts.

“It’s not going to stick around too, too long, so if you want to get some pictures I’d say, go out and get them,” he said.