Big parts of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington are under a Freezing Rain Advisory until Noon on Wednesday January 23, 2013.Although I’m pretty sure it will be canceled long before that.
But even the mention of “freezing rain” creates confusion.
Is Freezing Rain when tiny pieces of ice fall from the sky? Or is it when liquid raindrops fall from the sky?
The answer is number 2. It’s when liquid raindrops fall onto a frozen surface. Like a car, the road, trees, bark-dust or overhead lines on the MAX. Because the objects the liquid drops hit are below freezing, it takes just moments to minutes to see the liquid chance to ice.
And over the years I’ve found this is a confusing concept for many of us.
Because the name “freezing rain” makes it sound like it should be “frozen rain” — or ice — coming down from the sky. Don’t you agree?
Hi Bruce: Thanks for the explanation of freezing rain. I used to be confused about it myself. Anyway, up here there were reports of it this morning, but not in my location. I think I may have seen some snowflakes, but overall we’ve just had some light rain.