Photo description:

White-tailed deer run across Kirkham Road west of Brandon on a frosty Wednesday morning. Brandon and much of western Manitoba became a winter wonderland overnight last week as the region was subject to the formation of rime ice, which forms in foggy or cloudy conditions when water droplets in the air freeze on cold surfaces. The West Valley Naturalists page suggests that in the right conditions rime crystals can resemble hoarfrost, but most occurrences of rime ice will be thicker and will coat the entire surface more evenly. As well, rime ice crystals tend to resemble "feathery snow crystals rather than needles," and can build up over time so long as foggy conditions persist. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)