Frost

winter · ice · weather · crystals

Water turns to ice. Frost forms when water vapor in the air freezes directly into ice crystals on a cold surface, skipping the wet water stage entirely. This sneaky shortcut is called deposition.

Cold enough to freeze. Frost appears when the air gets so cold that it can't hold as much water vapor anymore, so the water vapor surrenders and becomes ice instead.

Tiny frozen sparkles. The ice crystals that make up frost are super tiny and create those beautiful glittery patterns you see on windows, grass, and car windshields on cold mornings.

A morning surprise. Frost usually forms overnight when the ground and air cool down, which is why you often see it glistening in the early morning before the sun melts it away.