PHOTOS: Christmas morning hoar frost in Fond du Lac

Mother Nature gave those that were up early Christmas day a Christmas present in the form of a beautiful display of hoar frost on area trees.

The hoar frost formed as a result of below freezing temperatures coupled with dense fog overnight. A combination we don’t see very often. The water vapor (fog) doesn’t freeze in the air, rather the droplets get super cooled. When they come in contact with a surface on the ground, the droplets freeze. If there is no breeze, the frost will form in a uniformed manner over the object. If there is a slight breeze, the frost will form downwind of the breeze.

The word “hoar” comes from Old English and refers to the frost’s appearance, which resembles white hair or a beard.