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A picture of a tree branch following a period of freezing rain. Freezing rain occurs when precipitation falls into an area where the temperature is above freezing (0º C, 32º F), melting any frozen precipitation. Closer to the ground, if the temperature drops back below freezing, the melted precipitation (now rain) becomes supercooled, and freezes instantly upon hitting an object. If freezing rain occurs for a long period of time, it can deposit a layer of ice on the ground and any objects which are not above the freezing point. This makes freezing rain an especially dangerous form of precipitation, as it can cause traffic accidents by making roads slippery, and can also cause trees and branches to fall, resulting in power outages and injuries to people who may be hit by falling trees or ice. The North American ice storm of 1998 was a long period of freezing rain which resulted in more than 30 deaths and billions of dollars in damage.

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