Eerie Winter Sounds: Ice Storm in Remote Woodlands

The Council of Bliss

In the heart of North Carolina's deep woods, a rare and captivating symphony can be heard during an ice storm. As tiny ice particles dance through the towering trees and settle upon the ground, a rustling melody is created, as the branches of the trees are coated in a layer of ice. This sound, both peaceful and eerie, serves as a reminder of the raw power of nature and the profound solitude it can evoke.

Ice storms occur when there is a layer of freezing air at the surface, and a layer of above-freezing air aloft. When precipitation falls through this warm air, it melts into rain droplets, which then freeze upon contact with the colder surfaces below. This can happen when warm and moist air from the Gulf of Mexico encounters a cold front, resulting in the formation of freezing rain. Ice storms are most common in the winter months, but can also occur in other seasons, depending on the weather conditions.

For longer play, check out the 11-Hour version on YouTube.

Thanks to the wonderful audio work of user courter of freesound.org, who recorded these sounds in January 2014.