Winter coating is a term used to describe the various forms of precipitation that occur during the winter season. HOAR is a white FROST that forms on cold surfaces, usually overnight. RIME is a type of FROST that forms when water droplets in the air freeze onto surfaces. FROST is a thin layer of ice that forms on cold surfaces. SLEET is a type of precipitation that is a mixture of rain and snow. Lastly, a blanket of snow is a layer of snow that covers the ground.