Winter storm 244878 224288324 2008-07-08T04:38:56Z 70.254.6.242 /* Wintry showers or wintry mixes */ {{Weather nav}} [[Image:Snowstorm.jpg|thumb|A typical view of a winter storm.]] {{Redirect|Snowstorm}} {{Articleissues | OR = December 2007 | unreferenced = December 2007}} A '''winter storm''' is an event in which the dominant varieties of [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] are forms that only occur at cold [[temperature]]s, such as [[snow]] or [[sleet]], or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are cold enough to allow [[ice]] to form (i.e. [[freezing rain]]). In temperate continental [[climate]]s, these storms are not necessarily restricted to the winter season, but may occur in the late autumn and early spring as well. Very rarely, they may form in summer, though it would have to be an abnormally cold summer, such as the summer of [[Year Without a Summer|1816]] in the Northeast [[United States|United States of America]]. In many locations in the [[Northern Hemisphere]], the most powerful winter storms usually occur in March and, in regions where temperatures are cold enough, April. == Snow == '''Snowstorms''' are storms where large amounts of snow fall. Snow is less dense than [[liquid]] water, by a factor of approximately 10 at temperatures slightly below freezing, and even more at much colder temperatures. Therefore, an amount of water that would produce 2 cm (0.8 in.) of rain could produce as much as 20 cm (8 in.) of snow. Five centimeters of snow (2 in.) is enough to create serious disruptions to [[traffic]] and school transport (because of the difficulty to drive and maneuver the school buses on slick roads). This is particularly true in places where snowfall is uncommon but heavy accumulating snowfalls can happen (e.g., [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Seattle, Washington|Seattle]], [[London]], [[Canberra]], [[Vancouver]]). In places where snowfall is common, such as [[Utica, New York|Utica]], [[Detroit]], [[Montreal]], [[Quebec City]], [[Toronto]] and [[Minneapolis]], such small snowfalls are rarely disruptive, though snowfalls in excess of 15 cm (6 in.) usually are. A massive snowstorm with strong winds and other conditions meeting certain criteria is known as a [[blizzard]]. A large number of heavy snowstorms, some of which were blizzards, occurred in the [[United States]] during the early and mid-1990s, and the [[1993 North American Storm Complex|1993 "Superstorm"]] was manifest as a blizzard in most of the affected area. Large snowstorms could be quite dangerous: a 15 cm (6 in.) snowstorm will make some unplowed roads impassible, and it is possible for [[automobiles]] to get stuck in the snow. Snowstorms exceeding 30 cm (12 in.) especially in southern or generally warm climates will cave the [[roof]]s of some homes and cause the loss of power. Standing dead trees can also be brought down by the weight of the snow, especially if it is wet or very dense. Even a few inches of dry snow can form drifts many feet high under windy conditions. Snowstorms are usually considered less dangerous than ice storms. However, the snow brings secondary dangers. [[Mountain]] snowstorms can produce [[Cornice (climbing)|cornice]]s and [[avalanche]]s. An additional danger, following a snowy winter, is spring [[flooding]] if the snow melts suddenly due to a dramatic rise in air temperature. Deaths can occur from hypothermia, infections brought on by frostbite, car accidents due to slippery roads, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning due to alternative heating methods after a storm causes a [[power outage]], or [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]]s caused by overexertion while shoveling heavy wet snow. == Wintry showers or wintry mixes == {{Main|Rain and snow mixed}} Many factors influence the form [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] will take, and atmospheric temperatures are influential as well as ground conditions. Sometimes, near the rain/snow interface a region of [[sleet]] or [[freezing rain]] will occur. It is difficult to predict what form this precipitation will take, and it may alternate between [[rain]] and [[snow]]. Therefore, weather forecasters just predict a "wintry mix". Usually, this type of precipitation occurs at temperatures between -2&nbsp;°C and 2°&nbsp;C (28°F and 36°F). ==Freezing rain storms and ice storms == {{Main|Ice storm}} <!-- This section is linked from [[Kansas City, Missouri]] --> [[Image:IceStormPowerLines.png|thumb|250px|Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in [[power outage]]s.]] [[Image:Ice storm sheath.jpg|thumb|200px|Plants wrapped in 6 mm (0.2 in.) of ice. Severe ice storms, which may occur in the spring, can kill plant life.]] [[Image:ICE RAIN.JPG|thumb|200px|[[Crabapple]] covered in icy glaze due to freezing rain.]] Heavy showers of [[freezing rain]] are one of the most dangerous types of winter storm. They typically occur when a layer of warm air hovers over a region, but the ambient temperature is near 0&nbsp;°C (32&nbsp;°F), and the ground temperature is sub-freezing. A storm in which only roads freeze is called a '''freezing rain storm'''; one resulting in widespread icing of plants and infrastructure is called '''ice storm'''. While a 10 cm (4 in.) snowstorm is somewhat manageable by the standards of the northern [[United States]] and [[Canada]], a comparable 1 cm (0.4 in.) ice storm will paralyze a region: driving becomes extremely hazardous, telephone and power lines are damaged, and crops may be ruined. Because they do not require extreme cold, ice storms often occur in warm temperature climates (such as the southern United States) and cooler ones. Ice storms in [[Florida]] will often destroy entire [[orange (fruit)|orange]] crops. Notable ice storms include an [[El Niño]]-related [[North American ice storm of 1998]] that affected much of eastern Canada, including [[Montreal]] and [[Ottawa]], as well as upstate [[New York]] and part of [[New England]]. Three million people lost power, some for as long as six weeks. One-third of the trees in Montreal's [[Mount Royal]] park were damaged, as well as a large proportion of the [[sugar]]-producing [[maple]] trees. The amount of economic damage caused by the storm has been estimated at $3 billion [[Canadian dollar|Canadian]]. The Ice Storm of December 2002 in [[North Carolina]] resulted in massive power loss throughout much of the state, and property damage due to falling trees. Except in the mountainous western part of the state, heavy snow and icy conditions are rare in [[North Carolina]]. The [[Ice Storm of December 2005]] was another severe winter storm producing extensive ice damage across a large portion of the Southern United States on December 14 to 16. It led to widespread power outages and at least 7 deaths. In January 2005 [[Kansas]] had been declared a major disaster zone by President [[George W. Bush]] after an ice storm caused nearly $39 million in damages to 32 counties. Federal funds were provided to the counties during January 4-6, 2005 to aid the recovery process. <ref>[http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/News%20Releases/2005/Gov%2002-09-05.htm Presidential Disaster Declaration authorized for Kansas counties hit by January ice storm<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> == See also == [[Image:Iced-tree-limbs-in-sun.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ice storms often coat many surfaces, such as trees]] *Comprehensive discussion of weather related terms, such as ''Winter Storm Warning'' : ** [[Severe weather terminology (United States)]] ** [[Severe weather terminology (Canada)]] * [[Winter storms of 2006-07]] * [[Winter storms of 2007-08]] * [[Winter Storm Warning]] * [[Winter Storm Watch]] * [[Winter Weather Advisory]] * [[Heavy snow warning]] * [[Ice Storm Warning]] * [[Snow Advisory]] * [[Cold wave]] * [[Siberian Express]] ==References== *[http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/esb/?goal=weather&file=events/snow/ Social & Economic Costs of Snow & Ice Storms] from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative {{reflist}} [[Category:Weather hazards]] [[Category:Storms]] [[Category:Snow or ice weather phenomena]] [[Category:Winter]] [[ar:عاصفة ثلجية]] [[cs:Sněhová bouře]] [[eu:Elur-ekaitza]] [[fr:Tempête de neige]] [[id:Badai salju]] [[lt:Sniego audra]] [[nl:Sneeuwstorm]] [[pt:Tempestade de inverno]] [[simple:Winter storm]] [[fi:Lumimyrsky]]