England’s Frosty Mornings (shimmering light, glistening grass)
There’s nothing nicer than a crisp frosty morning on an English day. Our unique weather systems, means that it’s very common to wake to shimmering lawns and cold air, though you have to of course be careful with slippery paths and foggy car windows.
Read more on how to keep safe in snowy weather.
What Is Frost?
Frost is simply a layer of ice crystals that forms, when water vapour in the air lands on cold surfaces, and freezes. It happens when the temperature falls close to or below zero (Celsius). When these surfaces hit the freezing point, water vapour in the air that lands on them, turns into ice.
Difference Between Frost, Dew, and Snow
Frost, dew, and snow all form from water, but in different ways and at different temperatures:
- Dew is water droplets that appear when mild nights cool the air, but not below freezing. The moisture stays liquid and sits on surfaces.
- Snow forms higher in the clouds and falls to earth as ice crystals, before landing on the ground.
In England, frosty mornings are most common from October to March. Countryside areas get more frost than cities, because there’s more open space and less heat from buildings and cars.
Frost and Plants (how not to kill them!)
Frost looks beautiful, but all gardeners know that it kills plants, by drawing water from leaves, causing them to burst. This stops growth and can kill plants. Some can survive frost by going dormant (a bit like how animals hibernate). But tomatoes and bedding plants may not recover.
That’s why gardeners often start plants indoors, or move outdoor plants inside, in frosty weather.
Read more on no-dig gardening and humane slug/snail deterrents. If you live with animal friends, read up on pet-friendly gardens (some recommended flowers and fruit trees are not safe). Also avoid netting to protect food (just leave some for wildlife!)
Avoid facing indoor plants to outside gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
Walking Safely in Frosty Weather
Advice for walking on frosty ground is (like in snow), to ‘walk like a penguin’:
- Move slowly with small shuffling steps
- Keep your feet pointed slightly outward.
- Keep your knees bent.
- Hands out of pockets (use arms to balance)
Doing the above lowers your centre of gravity, to increase stability and reduce the risk of falls. You can also wear ice grips on shoes or boots.
How to Defrost Car Windscreens
Rather than use de-icing sprays, there are other solutions (avoid hot water, it could crack the glass):
- Park your car undercover!
- Use a windscreen cover overnight (an old car mat will do).
- Use a manual scraper (or non-scratch kitchen spatula).
- Park your car facing east (early morning sun will melt the ice).
- Rub an onion on the windscreen the night before. The oil lines the glass, to stop freezing (keep onions away from pets).
- Or spritz a mix of cold water and cleaning vinegar) before bed or first thing in the morning, ice usually comes away in a few wipes.
Don’t use hot air inside cars, if babies/dogs are with you. Antifreeze is lethal to pets & wildlife, so let your mechanic change it in an enclosed space. If you change it yourself, use a funnel (as with oil) and use sand or kitty litter to absorb spills (don’t mop).
