A sign in Versoix, Switzerland after a major ice storm
The Cause of Ice Storms
Ice storms occur when a layer of warm air forms in between two layers of cold air. Once snow begins to fall it melts into rain while traveling through the warm layer of air. However, the rain doesn't freeze again when it goes through the bottom layer of cold air since that cold layer is quite thin, so the rain ends up freezing only when it hits the ground.
A bench in Versoix, Switzerland that has been encased in ice
Sources
http://www.naturalhazards.org/hazards/ice/index.html (Ice Storm information)
http://www.dullmen.com/park_benches.html (Bench photo)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiII3YLxBW5t6SlWAgf5nHmcHEnVKe279PUFhJn4XM-RJdGaQhAbm1i-lF7rxYbKKQdrUFSFJbSs-W2V6iou2qVKEYEpKuVRZ8clM42g-5Ve-YOI_HNc-cVUVdKdtDuaopFoOpj-Ak8n3c/s1600-h/Ice+Storm+damage+in+Versoix.jpg (Versoix sign picture)
