The spectrum of the solvated electron was recorded between 310 and 830 nm in water supercooled down to -18 degrees C, and in ice-I-h between -5 degrees C and -34 degrees C. The absorption maximum in liquid water continues to blue shift by 0.0022 eV/degree from high temperatures down to - 18 degrees C regardless of water bulk density. We suggest that the increasing free volume of the water below 4 degrees C due to formation of tetrahedral bonding structures is unavailable to the electron. The spectrum of electrons trapped in a vacancy site in ice-I-h is very similar to the liquid on the blue-side, but much narrower on the red side. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.