Vehicle windshield defrosting control based on frozen precipitation accumulation

A device and method for mitigating freezing-precipitation accumulation for a vehicle window are described. The device and method include retrieving ambient temperature data. When the ambient temperature data exceeds a temperature threshold for freezing precipitation, sensing ambient light from within a vehicle cabin to produce light magnitude sample data and comparing the light magnitude sample data with a baseline light magnitude sample data from within the vehicle cabin. When the light magnitude sample data compares unfavorably with the baseline light magnitude sample data, generating a vehicle window defroster command for transmission to activate a vehicle window defroster operable to be powered by a vehicle battery source.