Definition
Liquid precipitation, such as rain or drizzle, that falls in liquid form but freezes on contact with the ground, aircraft, or other surfaces whose temperature is at or below 0°C (32°F), forming a coating of clear or glaze ice.
Plain English
Rain or drizzle that is still liquid when it lands but freezes the instant it touches a cold surface, coating it with ice.
Context Anchor
Seen in weather reports, forecasts, preflight weather briefings, and winter ground operations.
Derivation
“Freezing” comes from an old word meaning to turn hard from cold. “Precipitation” comes from Latin words meaning to throw or fall downward. In weather, precipitation means water falling from the sky; freezing precipitation is falling water that turns to ice after contact.
Why Pilots Care
Creates rapid, difficult-to-remove ice on wings, propellers, and windshields that reduces lift and can force an emergency diversion or landing.
Grounding Statement
Picture rain falling normally, but the moment a drop touches the wing it turns to a smooth, hard glaze of ice that keeps building with every drop.
Intuition Check
Do not assume freezing precipitation means snow. It is often liquid rain or drizzle that freezes when it touches a surface.
Example Sentence 1
The METAR reported FZRA, so the pilot cancelled the flight rather than risk taking off in freezing precipitation.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach the crew noticed freezing precipitation beginning to accumulate on the leading edges.