Hoarfrost

Hoar-frost, n: A grayish-white crystalline deposit of frozen water vapor formed in clear still weather.

The hoarfrost phenomena is one that doesn't occur very often around here; the weather has to be a perfect combination of damp, cold (in the air), warm (in the ground), and foggy. I think the best example I ever saw was back in 2009--I've since misplaced those pictures, but basically everything outside was covered in frost that extended to an inch in all directions. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen, and ever since I've not seen any that was that extensive. I still see it once every year or so, and back in February we had some that was really quite stunning. 

Even the cat's whiskers get all frosted..... :P

 

 

This was later in the day--that shelf-looking cloud is heavy with snow. Snow skies are almost a little eerie because one never notices them moving in until they're right over you--and they move in quietly, with that weird sharp snowy smell. (Yes, snow has a smell--especially right before it actually starts to fall).