Freezing rain（冻雨 或 雨凇） occurs under specific atmospheric conditions. Freezing rain takes place when precipitation falls through a layer of subfreezing air near the ground but encounters a layer of above-freezing temperatures aloft, typically around 1,500 to 3,000 meters (5,000 to 10,000 feet) where it melts into raindrops. These raindrops then descend further and pass back through a shallow layer of subfreezing air near the surface.In this lower layer, the temperature is below 0°C (32°F), but it's not cold enough to freeze the raindrop completely. Instead, it supercools the raindrop without turning it into ice. 

When these supercooled raindrops strike surfaces that are at or below freezing, such as trees, power lines, roads, or vehicles, they instantly freeze upon impact, forming a glaze of ice.This phenomenon is particularly dangerous because it can create a significant accumulation of ice on surfaces, leading to hazardous travel conditions, power outages due to ice buildup on power lines, and tree damage from the weight of accumulated ice. Freezing rain events are often associated with winter storms and can be difficult to forecast accurately due to the precise temperature profiles required for their formation.

                 Fig. The freezing rain that hit Hubei and Hunan in early February 2024 caused a huge disaster