Ice Storms: From Small Beginnings to Epic Sizes
Ice storms happen yearly in many countries and should be expected. Learn more about this type of ice weather here…
Ice storms happen every year, all across the country, and can have a serious impact. They all start small, but some can grow and grow until they reach epic sizes. Cost and destruction can be a huge issue when they hit big cities. Find out about the potential size, impact, and costs of these weather events.
This post is all about ice storms.
Long-Lasting Ice Storms
What Causes an Ice Storm?
The first section of this post will be about what causes an ice storm. Every ice storm starts with a regular storm, whether just a singular cell or a whole extra-tropical cyclone flying through the atmosphere. The storm does have to be intense enough to drop some fair amounts of precipitation. The next step is for the temperature around the storm to be freezing so ice can form in the clouds. Updrafts cannot be too strong within the storm otherwise we get hail. Hail is technically a type of ice, but we are discussing a different kind of precipitation.
Then the ice forms in the clouds, getting more and more ice to latch onto the existing particles or ice. It falls onto the land when it gets heavy enough, which shouldn’t be too heavy. A slightly different process happens for freezing rain, which you can learn about here. The impact of the ice storm depends on how much falls, how big the ice is, what type of precipitation is falling, and more. See the answers to that later in this post.
Ice Accumulations
Ice accumulations from the storms that produce them can vary, from just a light coating on the ground to dangerous amounts bringing down whole trees. Ice accumulation is considered significant if it is over .25 inches. The most common periods for measuring ice accumulation are 1, 12, 24, and 72 hours. The damage caused by ice storms is all caused by ice accumulation unless it is cold. Learn more about ice storm damage in our other post here.
Effects of Ice Storms
The effects of an ice storm have already been discussed in previous posts, but I will do a brief overview of ice storm damage here. First, with trees, the branches can collapse under the weight of the ice, and so can the whole trees in rare cases. This can cause some serious damage to whatever got hit. Utility poles can also come down, as the power lines get too heavy from the ice precipitation. Power outages are common when this happens. Extreme temperatures knock out the power, too. Many things can happen with ice storm effects.
Freezing Rain Ice Storm
Just like the last section we have already made a post on this subject, freezing rain, so this will be a skim of the topic. So freezing rain happens when the ice crystals fall from the clouds. and then melt. A cooler layer near the ground tries to freeze them back up again but instead supercools them. This causes the precip. to be a liquid when it hits the ground, but immediately freezes on cold surfaces. This can cause roads to become icy and collapse objects that can’t hold their weight. Icy precipitation can accumulate in homes, trees, and other objects caught in its path.
How to Prepare for an Ice Storm
Since we have learned all about the events, we will now learn how to prepare for ice storms. It all depends on how long-lasting and intense the actual event is. One of the first things we prepare for is the power going out. So for that, there are several things we need. A generator (depending on the situation), a flashlight, and some batteries are required for appliances. If you use a gas-powered generator, use it safely and properly so there are no hazards that can arise from it.
If the power goes out, we might also need non-perishable food for several days, gas in cans for cars, and water. Be sure to drive safely once the ice from the freezing rain or other types of precipitation is off the road. Stay clear of powerlines knocked down, too. Make sure to prepare any other items you think you might need. Take into account all the factors of the storm and your daily life. Keep your supplies. somewhere where you will be able to find & use it. Have comfortable clothes if you don’t have a heater available to combat the cold wave.
