Rare Frost Flowers Appear at Deep Creek Lake

In what can only be defined as a spectacularly rare phenomenon, Deep Creek Lake found itself adorned with ‘Frost Flowers’ in January of 2022. After a warm start to the month, the temps quickly dropped, and the surface of the lake was iced over in a matter of days. The main body of the lake, which is the last to freeze solid enough to be safe for ice fisherman, snowmobilers, and other adventurers, remained thin through the middle of the month.

Then, on January 22, 2022, on a calm, freezing night, magic happened.

Deep Creek Lake was suddenly covered in exquisite frost flowers, stretching as far as the eye could see.

There are a few theories as to why these ice formations happen.

Local meteorologist Justin Berk speculated that the rapid freezing caused water to push through the surface, only to freeze again when it hit the air. With temps dropping below zero, the water underneath the thin ice froze rapidly and expanded, breaking apart the thin top layer of ice, resulting in escaping water to hit the surface and freeze into these beautiful frost flower formations.

Another theory is that the difference in temperature between the air and ice causes the ice to sublimate, and the ice turns from a solid to a gas, or water vapor. When the gas touches the cold air, the moisture in the gas freezes, which creates the frost flower formation.

Many speculated that the ice formations were hoar frost, so what’s the difference? While the structures of frost flowers and hoar frost look similar on a close-up evaluation, frost flowers tend to form in compact, symmetrical ‘flowers’ whereas hoar frost is a feathery frost that usually forms on any surface, and can commonly be seen coating branches and grasses.  

This was certainly an incredible sight to see at Deep Creek Lake! As it takes the perfect combination of weather, water temps, air temps, and ice coverage, it’s a very rare occurrence, and was a ‘first’ for nearly everyone who witnessed it in person. Photos of the frost flowers went viral on social media, shared by thousands.

Garrett County, Maryland has always been magical to us – but this allowed us to show just how special our area is to the world. All of these incredible photos were taken by our very own Jesse Shimrock!