The beautiful city of Vladivostok, Russia, located at the southern tip of the Muraviov Amursky Peninsula, is no stranger to harsh winters. However, on March 30th, 2023, a seemingly ordinary rain event turned into a disruptive phenomenon – freezing rain.

Freezing rain occurs when rain falls but encounters temperatures below freezing at ground level. The rain freezes on contact, creating a layer of ice on anything it touches. This seemingly simple weather event can have significant consequences.

In the case of Vladivostok, the freezing rain transformed the city into a glistening wonderland – at least aesthetically. Cars became unrecognizable, coated in a thick layer of ice that encased their entire bodies. The image circulating online, captured at 2:50 pm on the 30th, 2010, shows a car completely hidden beneath a transparent shell of ice.

“It’s like the entire city was put on pause. My car became an ice sculpture overnight—it looked beautiful but was impossible to move.” A local resident.

While the sight might be captivating in photos, the reality of freezing rain is far less charming.

The icy conditions created treacherous roads, significantly increasing the risk of accidents due to compromised traction. Additionally, the weight of the ice on power lines resulted in outages, leaving many residents without power.

“Freezing rain can turn everyday objects into ice sculptures, trapping cars, trees, and even streets under thick layers of ice. It’s a striking but hazardous consequence of rapid weather changes.” Says Metereologist Alexei Kokorin.