An ice storm, also known as a glaze event or a silver storm is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain.[1] The U.S. National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) of ice on exposed surfaces.[2][3] They are generally not violent storms but instead are commonly perceived as gentle rains occurring at temperatures just below freezing.
A graph showing the formation of different kinds of precipitation.
The formation of ice begins with a layer of above-freezing air above a layer of sub-freezing temperatures closer to the surface. Frozen precipitation melts to rain while falling into the warm air layer, and then begins to refreeze in the cold layer below. If the precipitate refreezes while still in the air, it will land on the ground as sleet. Alternatively, the liquid droplets can continue to fall without freezing, passing through the cold air just above the surface. This thin layer of air then cools the rain to a temperature below freezing (0 °C or 32 °F). However, the drops themselves do not freeze, a phenomenon called supercooling (or forming "supercooled drops"). When the supercooled drops strike ground or anything else below 0 °C (32 °F) (e.g. power lines, tree branches, aircraft), a layer of ice accumulates as the cold water drips off, forming a slowly thickening film of ice, hence freezing rain.[4][5][6]
While meteorologists can predict when and where an ice storm will occur, some storms still occur with little or no warning.[5] In the United States, most ice storms occur in the northeastern region, but damaging storms have occurred farther south; an ice storm in February 1994 resulted in tremendous ice accumulation as far south as Mississippi, and caused reported damage in nine states.[7][8]
Effect
Power lines and poles pulled down after an ice storm. Besides disrupting transportation, ice storms can disrupt utilities by snapping lines and poles.
The freezing rain from an ice storm covers everything with heavy, smooth glaze ice.[9] In addition to hazardous driving or walking conditions, branches or even whole trees may break from the weight of ice. Falling branches can block roads, tear down power and telephone lines, and cause other damage. Even without falling trees and tree branches, the weight of the ice itself can easily snap power lines and also break and bring down power/utility poles; even electricity pylons with steel frames. This can leave people without power for anywhere from several days to a month. According to most meteorologists, just 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) of ice accumulation can add about 500 pounds (230 kg) of weight per line span. Damage from ice storms is easily capable of shutting down entire metropolitan areas.
Additionally, the loss of power during ice storms has indirectly caused numerous illnesses and deaths due to unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. At lower levels, CO poisoning causes symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and headache, but high levels can cause unconsciousness, heart failure, and death.[10] The relatively high incidence of CO poisoning during ice storms occurs due to the use of alternative methods of heating and cooking during prolonged power outages, common after severe ice storms.[11] Gas generators, charcoal and propane barbecues, and kerosene heaters contribute to CO poisoning when they operate in confined locations.[10] CO is produced when appliances burn fuel without enough oxygen present,[12] such as basements and other indoor locations.
Loss of electricity during ice storms can indirectly lead to hypothermia and result in death. It can also lead to ruptured pipes due to water freezing inside the pipes.
^Hauer, Richard J.; Dawson, Jeffrey O.; Werner, Les P. (2006). (2 ed.). College of Natural Resources, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and the Office of Continuing Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2007.
^"NOAA Weather Glossary". National Weather Service. 2022.
^Gay, David A.; Robert E. Davis (1993-12-30). "Freezing rain and sleet climatology of the southeastern USA". Climate Research. 3 (1): 209–220. Bibcode:1993ClRes...3..209G. doi:10.3354/cr003209.
^ ab"Ice Storms". City of Savannah, Georgia. Archived from the original on 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
^University of Illinois. "Cyclones and Fronts: the definition of freezing rain". Retrieved 2009-01-09.
^Irland, Lloyd C. (2000-11-15). "Ice Storms and forest impacts". The Science of the Total Environment. 262 (1): 231–242. Bibcode:2000ScTEn.262..231I. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00525-8. ISSN 0048-9697. PMID 11087029.
^"Ice Storm Facts for Kids". Fast Facts for Kids. 2022.
^ abHartling, L.; Brison, R.J.; Pickett, W. (November 1998). . Canadian Journal of Public Health. 89 (3): 388–390. doi:10.1007/BF03404080. PMC6990320. PMID 9926497. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
^Wrenn, K.; Conners, G.P. (1997). Carbon monoxide poisoning during ice storms: A tale of two cities (4 ed.). Journal of Emergency Medicine.
^Griefe, A.L.; Goldenhar, L.M.; Freund, E. (1997). Carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline-powered engines: Risk perception among midwest flood victims (3 ed.). American Journal of Public Health.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ice storms.
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For other uses see Ice storm disambiguation An ice storm also known as a glaze event or a silver storm is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain 1 The U S National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0 25 inch 6 4 mm of ice on exposed surfaces 2 3 They are generally not violent storms but instead are commonly perceived as gentle rains occurring at temperatures just below freezing Devastation caused by an ice storm Contents 1 Formation 2 Effect 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksFormation Edit A graph showing the formation of different kinds of precipitation The formation of ice begins with a layer of above freezing air above a layer of sub freezing temperatures closer to the surface Frozen precipitation melts to rain while falling into the warm air layer and then begins to refreeze in the cold layer below If the precipitate refreezes while still in the air it will land on the ground as sleet Alternatively the liquid droplets can continue to fall without freezing passing through the cold air just above the surface This thin layer of air then cools the rain to a temperature below freezing 0 C or 32 F However the drops themselves do not freeze a phenomenon called supercooling or forming supercooled drops When the supercooled drops strike ground or anything else below 0 C 32 F e g power lines tree branches aircraft a layer of ice accumulates as the cold water drips off forming a slowly thickening film of ice hence freezing rain 4 5 6 While meteorologists can predict when and where an ice storm will occur some storms still occur with little or no warning 5 In the United States most ice storms occur in the northeastern region but damaging storms have occurred farther south an ice storm in February 1994 resulted in tremendous ice accumulation as far south as Mississippi and caused reported damage in nine states 7 8 Effect Edit Power lines and poles pulled down after an ice storm Besides disrupting transportation ice storms can disrupt utilities by snapping lines and poles The freezing rain from an ice storm covers everything with heavy smooth glaze ice 9 In addition to hazardous driving or walking conditions branches or even whole trees may break from the weight of ice Falling branches can block roads tear down power and telephone lines and cause other damage Even without falling trees and tree branches the weight of the ice itself can easily snap power lines and also break and bring down power utility poles even electricity pylons with steel frames This can leave people without power for anywhere from several days to a month According to most meteorologists just 0 25 inch 6 4 mm of ice accumulation can add about 500 pounds 230 kg of weight per line span Damage from ice storms is easily capable of shutting down entire metropolitan areas Additionally the loss of power during ice storms has indirectly caused numerous illnesses and deaths due to unintentional carbon monoxide CO poisoning At lower levels CO poisoning causes symptoms such as nausea dizziness fatigue and headache but high levels can cause unconsciousness heart failure and death 10 The relatively high incidence of CO poisoning during ice storms occurs due to the use of alternative methods of heating and cooking during prolonged power outages common after severe ice storms 11 Gas generators charcoal and propane barbecues and kerosene heaters contribute to CO poisoning when they operate in confined locations 10 CO is produced when appliances burn fuel without enough oxygen present 12 such as basements and other indoor locations Loss of electricity during ice storms can indirectly lead to hypothermia and result in death It can also lead to ruptured pipes due to water freezing inside the pipes Gallery Edit A tree covered in ice Detail of a pinecone covered in ice A buildup of ice on a branch after an ice storm Car after an ice storm A weeping willow tree damaged by an ice stormSee also EditFreezing rain Ice pruning List of ice storms Power outage Sperry Piltz Ice Accumulation IndexReferences Edit NASA Earth Data NASA 2022 Hauer Richard J Dawson Jeffrey O Werner Les P 2006 Trees and Ice Storms The Development of Ice Storm Resistant Urban Tree Populations 2 ed College of Natural Resources University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences and the Office of Continuing Education University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Archived from the original PDF on February 21 2007 NOAA Weather Glossary National Weather Service 2022 Gay David A Robert E Davis 1993 12 30 Freezing rain and sleet climatology of the southeastern USA Climate Research 3 1 209 220 Bibcode 1993ClRes 3 209G doi 10 3354 cr003209 a b Ice Storms City of Savannah Georgia Archived from the original on 2007 07 28 Retrieved 2009 01 08 University of Illinois Cyclones and Fronts the definition of freezing rain Retrieved 2009 01 09 Irland Lloyd C 2000 11 15 Ice Storms and forest impacts The Science of the Total Environment 262 1 231 242 Bibcode 2000ScTEn 262 231I doi 10 1016 S0048 9697 00 00525 8 ISSN 0048 9697 PMID 11087029 WS Jackson MS February 1994 Delta Ice Storm National Weather Service 2022 Ice Storm Facts for Kids Fast Facts for Kids 2022 a b Hartling L Brison R J Pickett W November 1998 Cluster of Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Poisonings Presenting to the Emergency Departments of Kingston Ontario during Ice Storm 98 Canadian Journal of Public Health 89 3 388 390 doi 10 1007 BF03404080 PMC 6990320 PMID 9926497 Archived from the original on 2011 07 06 Retrieved 2009 11 28 Wrenn K Conners G P 1997 Carbon monoxide poisoning during ice storms A tale of two cities 4 ed Journal of Emergency Medicine Griefe A L Goldenhar L M Freund E 1997 Carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline powered engines Risk perception among midwest flood victims 3 ed American Journal of Public Health External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ice storms Ice Storms at The Weather Channel U S Billion dollar Weather and Climate Events Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ice storm amp oldid 1125791075, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
