1. Nathan Atkinson Geography 1000

2. * An Ice Storm, or freezing rain, is rain that freezes on contact with a cold surface or with cold air that is near the ground. * The moisture is frozen high up in the atmosphere and is then heated up and melts and then refreezes just before or as it hits the ground.

4. * When there is a large mass of cold air and moisture above a large mass of warm air, the moisture begins as snow * The moisture melts as it falls through the warmer air until it reaches the ground. Because the surface temperatures are at or near freezing, the rain freezes on contact with the ground.

5. * Rainstorms – warmer air near the surface. The water does not refreeze on contact. * Hail/Sleet – Rain that freezes higher up in the atmosphere and remains frozen until it hits the ground. * Snow – Frozen water in crystal form. Snow is frozen in the clouds and remains frozen.

6. * Freezing Rain can be extremely dangerous, especially if enough ice forms on roads and utilities. * The biggest dangers come from loss of power, dangerous driving conditions and very low temperatures. * Ice Storms can cost communities hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, depending on the intensity, length and amount of rain/ice.

7. * An experimental index has been created to determine the intensity of ice storms based on several factors. * The scale is used to alert people of the approaching storm and let them know how much ice to expect and what type of damage is to be expected. * The index includes thickness of ice, wind speeds and potential damage to utilities, especially power utilities.

9. A typical pattern for ice storms. This deadly storm pattern is not too hot and not too cold. Picture Courtesy AOL Weather and Accuweather.com – http://weather.aol.com/2013/01/26/ice-storm-brewing-for-chicago-detroit-st-louis/

10. Pictures of Ice Storms and the Damage they Cause

12. Photo: http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showthread.php?t=1225829

13. Photo: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/2007-12-12-winter-storm_N.htm Photo: http://severewarningsystems.com/news_midwst_icest_1.28.09.html

14. Photo: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/top/?n=ice2007

15. Photo: http://outofashes.tv/uncategorized/ice-meltdown/

16. Photo: http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/amazingimages/icestorm.htm

18. * Facts about Ice Storm Dangers: * Ice increases tree branch weight by as much as 30 times * ½” of ice can add 500 lbs. of weight to power lines * In 2009 an ice storm left over 1.3 million people without power * In 1998 an ice storm caused over $1.4 Billion in damage in New England. Source: Dolce, Chris. "Ice Storms: Why The'yre So Dangerous." Weather Underground. N.p., 5 Dec 1013. Web. 6 Dec 2013..

19. * Ice storms can cause massive damage to affected areas. Often power is lost, other utilities can be damaged, roads, cars, street lights, buildings and trees can all sustain damage. * In one ice storm in January 2009 in Kentucky, over 600,000 people were without power after the storm. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said it was the largest natural disaster to hit Kentucky in modern history.

20. * I lived in the St. Louis area for two years (2011-2013) and experienced two Mid-West winters. Although the winters were very mild while I was there, I did experience some very cold and wet wintry storms. Among these I experienced some mild ice storms, probably registering a 0 or 1 on the SPIA index. These storms hit while I was living in a small town in central Illinois. They essentially shut down the whole town. Stores and public buildings shut down early to prepare for the storm, streets were empty and everyone was indoors. The ice storm produced between 1/8” to ¼” of ice that covered mostly everything on the ground – road, trees, houses, windows, cars, and anything that was close to the surface. Luckily the ice storm was short and eventually it got cold enough that it turned into sleet and then snow, but the roads were horrible for driving and people in nearby towns lost power.

21. * "Rain, Freezing Rain, Sleet, Snow…What’s the Difference?." Earth Gauge. National Environmental Education Foundation. Web. 1 Dec 2013.. * Sperry, Sidney. Ice Damage Index. 2009. Chart. National Weather Service Weather Forecast OfficeWeb. 3 Dec 2013. <http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tsa/?n=badice * http://weather.aol.com/2013/01/26/ice-storm-brewing-for- chicago-detroit-st-louis/ http://weather.aol.com/2013/01/26/ice-storm-brewing-for- chicago-detroit-st-louis/ * Erdman, Jon. "Category 5 Ice Storm? A New Index Rates Ice Storm Impacts." The Weather Channel. The Weather Channel, 03 Dec 2013. Web. 4 Dec 2013.. * Dolce, Chris. "Ice Storms: Why The'yre So Dangerous." Weather Underground. N.p., 5 Dec 1013. Web. 6 Dec 2013.. * My Personal Experience from living in the Midwest.