Over the last few days, what many assumed to be 'Hoarfrost' lined most every tree brack and power line in Swift Current.

The thing is, it wasn't 'Hoarfrost'.

What it was was a thing called 'Rime Icing'. Rime Icing forms when there is lots of fog or moisture in the area. When the water droplets drifting in the fog make contact with a surface, they freeze to it, forming an icy coating along the walls. They don't freeze while floating in the air due to surface tension on the droplet.

For Terri Lang, a meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, it's a wonderful phenomenon. 

"It makes beautiful photos, but it gets a lot more dangerous than hoarfrost," said Lang.

Since it's made up of heavier water particles, rime icing is itself pretty heavy. Back in 2018, rime icing led to one of the biggest power outages in SaskPower history right here in the southwest.

So while it's pretty to look at and take photos of, folks are encouraged to keep an eye out for overburdened branches and structures. Collapses can be dangerous, especially with power lines.