Postcard from Italy: Ski resort turns to ice

Spring may be soon to be on the calendar, but this Italian ski resort is shrouded in a thick layer of winter.

Freezing fog over Monte Bue, Liguria, at an altitude of 5,500 feet, left an incredibly thick layer of ice on everything in the area - ski lifts, trees, and even inside uninsulated buildings.

Rime ice forms in freezing fog, from supercooled water droplets. The droplets freeze on the windward side of trees and other objects, in low temperatures roughly between 14 F and 28 F.

Hard rime, like in the photos above, requires high winds, whilst soft rime, similar to hoar frost, can form in calm or light winds. Due to the rapid growth of the ice crystals, the amount of it can become so heavy that branches even buckle under the load.

There is still time in the season to get some of this here in the U.S. We will be monitoring closely.