Ice Storms

WHAT ARE ICE STORM

S?

• Ice storms are a type of dangerous winter storm.

• The ice they leave can cover sidewalks and roads, even split trees from the weight of the ice.

• These dangerous storms are nicknamed “Dangerous beauties”.

What causes ice storms?• Ice storms occur when freezing rain falls and immediately forms a thin layer of ice over any surface.• They are considered ice storms once ¼ of an inch or more of ice has

layered up.

How long do they last?

2 hours- 1 day of

freezing rain The effects of ice

storms can last for days, even weeks, until all of the ice unfreezes

When do ice storms happen?

• Ice storms occur mostly in valleys and foothills in December and January near sunrise, because it Is usually the coldest time of day.

Dangers of ice storms

Ice storms can make roads and sidewalks slippery with black ice, making it especially dangerous to drive, and even a simple walk outside can be a hazard.

Like most other winter storms, if the cold comes early it can severely damage crops, causing a high impact on the total amount of crops harvested in that growing season

Effects of Ice storms

Property damage from

ice storm

s

The ice that piles up on power lines can snap the lines from the pressure. The loss of these power lines can leave people without electricity and a way to heat their homes for up to a month.

The weigh of ice storms can cause trees to bend and break

MORE UNIQUE INFORM

ATION

•According to meteorologists, the weight of one square inch of ice on a power line can add over 500 pounds per line span, this makes it very likely that the power line will snap, causing loss of electricity and creating more dangers• One of the most recent sever ice storms in the united state occurred in January of 1998- 4 million were left without power and the cost of damage came to around $1,000,000. 25 people were killed in that storm.

photo credits http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/1119033982_42e2495b09.jpg

http://www.decrepitoldfool.com/images/08/ice-storm-dec08-600.jp

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jpg http://webecoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/icestormquebe

c.jpg http://www.quiltart.com/gallery/fausser.html

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rm1.jpg http://www.rbosman.com/image/tid/6

http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/hsem/PhotoLibrary/naturaldisa

sters.html http://www.bigrockworks.com http://www.doubleexposure.com/uploads/4_d0049_bison_in_icesto

rm.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_storm

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