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When Does Freezing Rain Become An Ice Storm?

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According to the National Weather Service, “An ice storm is used to describe occasions when damaging accumulations of ice are expected during freezing rain situations”. Freezing rain occurs when the air is warm high up above the surface and colder close to the surface.
“These storms typically develop during the winter in a belt on the north side of a stationary or warm front. In this setting, a combination of three conditions leads to freezing rain: (1) an ample source of moisture in the warm air mass south of the front, (2) warm air uplifted over a shallow layer of cold air, and (3) objects on the land surface at or very close to freezing” (Keller, DeVecchio, p.312).
When does freezing rain become an ice storm? Freezing rain is considered an ice storm when the rain is continuing on for a long period of time. Ice storms are more dangerous and have many more hazards associated with it than any other winter storm. The reason for this is because when freezing rain hits the earth’s surface it creates a thin, maybe even thick layer of ice. This type of ice that is formed is called “glaze” (Blizzards). The thickness of the ice depends on how much we get and/or how long the storm lasts for. Ice storms can cause power outages, which for any storm, it is pretty common. What makes this storm different and more dangerous from the rest of them is the amount of damage this causes. The glaze that coats the surface also coats of the trees, wires and utility poles. Trees or tree

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