February 2021 has already registered some mighty chilly temperatures. Overnight on 11 February, the thermometer went down to -23°C in Scotland. Brrr, now that is chilly! But does the sea freeze? Here’s the answer…
Does the Sea Freeze?
Yes it does, in extremely cold weather! Not quite as rare as hens teeth, but it’s certainly not a common occurrence by any means.
The reason is salt. Good old Sodium Chloride – it’s used all over the world to melt snow and ice.
The freezing point of seawater decreases as its salt concentration increases. Sea water of typical saltiness freezes at about −2 °C (28 °F).
Here on the Fylde Coast, as in other seaside towns, the air contains a higher concentration of salt. It’s in the water vapour that hangs all around us. So during average wintery weather the temperatures don’t drop low enough – and so the sea doesn’t turn to ice.
The Day the Sea Turned to Ice!
The next photo was taken in December 2010. There’d been a very rare snowfall – thick enough for it to cover and cold enough for it not to melt and disappear straight away. Not sure that even then the sea had managed to freeze!
But in February 2021 there’s no disputing what this is! This is frozen seawater on 10 February 2021, fractured into blocks of ice where the waves have pushed it to shore. This photo was sent in by Carol. It’s taken by her husband John, who’s brave enough to go out in the cold! Find it in the Coast Watchers timeline – with hundreds of other seafront views.
Fascinated by snow and ice at the seaside? You’ll LOVE this short video compilation!
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And look at this display in St Annes!
Why Doesn’t the Sea Freeze Very Often?
You’ve only got to go for a walk on a windy day and you can taste the salt on your lips. The salt tends to act as a universal seaside de-icer. It means we get little or no snow – and a lot less frost.
Why is it a de-icer? Because salty water freezes at a much lower temperature than clean water. A fully saturated solution of salt water is one where you can’t possibly dissolve any more salt if you try. That needs to be a chilly -21.1 °C to freeze!
And Snow at the Seaside?
Mmm. Four flakes is considered to be a storm in these parts! Snow is also very rare at the coast. It’s not something we see often, and not necessarily at the same time as icy sea either!
More photos and more about snow at the seaside here
The other kind of ‘snow’ arrive at all times of the year! Sea foam looks like snow, but most certainly isn’t!
Here’s some more interesting weather pages –
While you’re here…
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