16 Ice Storm Facts For Kids

1. An ice storm is a winter storm that produces freezing rain and covers exposed surfaces with at least 0.25 inches of ice.
2. Ice storms are also known as silver thaws or glaze events.
3. All exposed exterior surfaces will have a smooth glaze of ice on them after an ice storm.
4. In the United States, most ice storms occur in December and January, but they can occur during other months.
5. Ice storms aren’t violent but can cause quite a bit of damage due to the weight of the ice they create.
6. The main source of damage from an ice storm is the additional weight stress created by the ice.
7. Utility poles and lines are the most vulnerable during an ice storm. It’s not uncommon for ice storms to cause widespread power outages.
8. Small to very large tree branches can break from the pressure of ice produced during an ice storm. These branches can cause serious property damage and even death.
9. The ice that covers roads during and after an ice storm can create hazardous driving conditions that can result in accidents and fatalities.
10. Ice storms are known as deceptive killers. Most of the deaths related to an ice storm are indirectly related to it. Hypothermia caused by power outages and auto accidents caused by ice are the primary causes of death.
11. Ice storms are rated using the Sperry-Piltz Ice Accumulation Index, or simply the SPIA Index.
12. The SPIA Index considers the size of the ice storm, estimated ice accumulation totals and potential damage it could cause.
13. There are six different event categories on the SPIA Index, from zero to five. A level zero ice storm is the weakest, while a level five ice storm is catastrophic.
14. The U.S. National Weather Service issues an ice storm warning when the conditions are right to create heavy ice accumulation in a specific area.
15. The Great Ice Storm of 1998 occurred between January 4th and January 10th in 1998. It caused between five and seven billion dollars in damage in 2005 USD. It’s estimated to have killed 44 people and left four million people without power.
16. The December 2008 Northeastern United States ice storm occurred between December 11th and December 12th in 2008. It caused up to $3.7 billion in damages in 2008 USD. It’s estimated to have killed 5 people and left 1.7 million people without power.

Ice Storm Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on ice storms. Below are six pictures of ice storms and the aftermath of an ice storm. These pictures should help you better understand the power of this severe winter storm.

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