A buildup of ice caused when rain freezes as it strikes the surface of cold objects

A buildup of ice caused when rain freezes as it strikes the surface of cold objects

• A. Hailstorm
• B. Blizzard
• C. Ice storm
• D. Freezing rain

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is freezing rain. This occurs when raindrops are supercooled as they fall through a shallow layer of subfreezing air, so they freeze instantly on contact with any surface that’s at or below 0°C. The result is a glaze of ice forming on roads, trees, and power lines—precisely the buildup described. An ice storm describes the broader event of widespread ice accumulation caused by freezing rain, but the description here points to the precipitation process itself, which is freezing rain. Hailstorms involve ice pellets formed in thunderstorm updrafts, and blizzards are heavy snowstorms with strong winds, which don’t match the given scenario.

The concept being tested is freezing rain. This occurs when raindrops are supercooled as they fall through a shallow layer of subfreezing air, so they freeze instantly on contact with any surface that’s at or below 0°C. The result is a glaze of ice forming on roads, trees, and power lines—precisely the buildup described. An ice storm describes the broader event of widespread ice accumulation caused by freezing rain, but the description here points to the precipitation process itself, which is freezing rain. Hailstorms involve ice pellets formed in thunderstorm updrafts, and blizzards are heavy snowstorms with strong winds, which don’t match the given scenario.