Posted in New Hampshire Nature January 16, 2021 by

A Natural Phenomenon, Rime Ice, Has Been Popping Up In New Hampshire And It’s Breathtaking

Winter in New Hampshire means being able to experience some of the most incredible landscapes in the region. From far away all that white stuff might look just like snow, but the reality is a bit different. Some of what you see is ice, but that’s not all mother nature has in store for us when the temperatures dip! There’s one type of ice that’s actually a bit rarer and it only comes out when conditions are just right.

Every winter, New Hampshire turns into a winter wonderland. As we near the end of autumn we all wait for these landscapes to appear and they're never a disappointment.
number7cloud / Flickr
And we might now have realized, but much of this beauty is due to the trees and ground being covered in rime ice.
DenisTangneyJr / E+ / Getty Images
Rime ice comes in a few different varieties, which is why you may have heard a few different names for it. Among them are rime frost, hoar frost, or hard rime.
WIN-Initiative / Stone / Getty Images
If you're like us and enjoy seeing those wintry photos of Mt. Washington, you've already seen rime ice! It's this ice thjat covers the structures so dramatically each year.
mtwashington / Flickr
While much of the ice we see is completely clear, rime ice is a bit different. Regular ice forms to the surface it's on, but rime ice is made of small spikes with crystals.
yellowstonenps / Flickr
This unique ice can look smooth and white, but that depends on whether it's hard rime or soft rime.
cnneil / Flickr
Before you believe you haven't seen it, remember that it often goes undetected in the early morning hours when it's still cold.
zeze57 / Flickr
Rime ice develops quickly and is the result of foggy conditions that occur in below-freezing temperatures. When this happens, small drops of water in the air freeze as soon as they hit a surface. If you've ever woken up to an entire landscape covered in ice, this is why! It can happen overnight.
mtwashington / Flickr
Hard rime can be difficult to remove from things like cars, which is a pain when you're in a hurry.
number7cloud / Flickr
But with a little time on your hands and some patience, enjoying rime ice can be lovely.

Because conditions must be just right for rime ice to appear, it can be hard to spot. Where you have you seen it recently? Let us know in the comments so we (and other readers!) can check it out. And to truly appreciate the season, take some time to relax! A great way to do it is by soaking in a hot tub surrounded by natural beauty at these 5 cabins in New Hampshire!

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