The polar vortex has caused extremely low temperatures across North America, with video showing washing fluid instantly crystallising on a windshield in Montreal.

The clip, filmed on January 31, shows the windscreen of the car completely clear but after using some windscreen wash, the window instantly starts to freeze over.

David Freiheit, who admits he’s no scientist, explains what’s happening in the clip: “The windshield fluid is about 40% methanol alcohol (the poisonous kind). It evaporates faster than the non-alcohol water base of the windshield fluid.

"So once the alcohol evaporates, the remaining liquid / water layer freezes and crystallizes off whatever impurities it finds to crystallize off. And the pattern is just how ice crystals form in water."

When it is blistering cold, the windshield fluid crystallizes on the windshield. It is fascinating to watch