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Arctic warming may lead to altered occurrences and strengthening of extreme weather events. Arctic rain-on-snow (ROS) events are of a particular interest in this regard. ROS conditions generate hazards for the transportation sector, ranging from flooding and icing to airport closures, and can severely damage infrastructure through wet-snow avalanches. ROS events, and the resulting ice growth, interfere with foraging by reindeer, caribou, and musk oxen, heavily relied upon species among Indigenous peoples. There have been documented mass starvations of these animals due to ROS. This study addresses the meteorological setups of Arctic ROS events. We focus on cases for Iqaluit, Nunavut, in Canada and Nuuk, Greenland, using ERA5 atmospheric reanalysis, surface weather station data, and atmospheric soundings. At the synoptic scale, we find that blocking patterns play leading roles in ROS initiation, with atmospheric rivers contributing to both direct and indirect effects. Cyclone-induced low-level jets and resultant “warm noses” of higher air temperatures and elevated moisture transport are other key features in ROS generation. We conclude by postulating how climate change may alter the severity and frequency of Arctic ROS events, drawing on this improved knowledge of weather patterns leading to ROS conditions.