What are Winter Storms?

Most people think of a Winter Storm as a snowstorm. While this can be true, there are other types of weather associated with winter storms that can be extremely hazardous.

• Storms with Strong Winds
  Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines. Storms near the coast can cause coastal flooding and beach erosion as well as sink ships at sea.
• Extreme Cold
  Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. What constitutes extreme cold and its effect varies across different areas of the United States. In areas unaccustomed to winter weather, near freezing temperatures are considered "extreme cold." Freezing temperatures can cause severe damage to citrus fruit crops and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat. In the north, below zero temperatures may be considered as "extreme cold." Long cold spells can cause rivers to freeze, disrupting shipping. Ice jams may form and lead to flooding.
• Ice Storms
  Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. Communications and power can be disrupted for days while utility companies work to repair the extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.
• Heavy Snow Storms
  Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock down trees and power lines. In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and unprotected livestock may be lost. In the mountains, heavy snow can lead to avalanches. The cost of snow removal, repairing damages, and loss of business can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.

How do Winter Storms develop?

There are three basic ingredients necessary for a winter storm to develop:

COLD AIR:

below freezing temperatures in the clouds and near the ground are necessary to make snow and/or ice.

MOISTURE:

to form clouds and precipitation. Air blowing across a body of water, such as a large lake or the ocean, is an excellent source of moisture.

LIFT:

something to raise the moist air to form the clouds and cause precipitation. An example of lift is warm air colliding with cold air and being forced to rise over the cold dome. The boundary between the warm and cold air masses is called a front. Another example of lift is air flowing up a mountain side.

Why are Winter Storms Dangerous and how do they cause deaths?

Most deaths from Winter Storms are not directly related to the storm itself

• People die in traffic accidents on icy roads.
• People die of heart attacks while shoveling snow.
• People die of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.

Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The actual threat to you depends on your specific situation. Recent observations indicate the following:

• Related to ice and snow:
  • About 70% occur in automobiles.
  • About 25% are people caught out in the storm.
  • Majority are males over 40 years old.
• Related to exposure to cold:
  • 50% are people over 60 years old.
  • Over 75% are males.
  • About 20% occur in the home.

FLURRIES - Light snow falling for short durations. No accumulation or light dusting is all that is expected. SHOWERS - Snow falling at varying intensities for brief periods of time. Some accumulation is possible.
SQUALLS - Brief, intense snow showers accompanied by strong, gusty winds. Accumulation may be significant. Snow squalls are best known in the Great Lakes region.
BLOWING SNOW - Wind-driven snow that reduces visibility and causes significant drifting. Blowing snow may be snow that is falling and/or loose snow on the ground picked up by the wind.
BLIZZARD - Winds over 35 mph with snow and blowing snow reducing visibility to near zero.

SLEET

Rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.

FREEZING RAIN

Rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard.

• FROSTBITE-
  Frostbite is damage to body tissue caused by that tissue being frozen. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose. If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas. However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before the extremities.
  
  
• HYPOTHERMIA: LOW BODY TEMPERATURE-
  Warning signs - uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech,drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion.
  Detection - Take the person's temperature. If below 95F (35C),immediately seek medical care! If medical care is not available, begin warming the person slowly. Warm the body core first. If needed, use your own body heat to help. Get the person into dry clothing, and wrap them in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food; warm broth is better. Do not warm extremities (arms and legs) first! This drives the cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure.
  
  
• WIND CHILL -
  is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by combined effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill.
  
  

• OVEREXERTION, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car, or walking in deep snow. The strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia.

Find shelter:

• try to stay dry
• cover all exposed parts of the body.
No shelter:

• prepare a lean-to, wind-break, or snow cave for protection from the wind.
• build a fire for heat and to attract attention.
• place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat.
Do not eat snow: It will lower your body temperature. Melt it first.

Stay in your car or truck. Disorientation occurs quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
Run the motor about ten minutes each hour for heat:
• open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
• make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked.
Make yourself visible to rescuers:
• turn on the dome light at night when running engine.
• tie a colored cloth (preferably red) to your antenna or door.
• raise the hood indicating trouble after snow stops falling.
Exercise from time to time by vigorously moving arms, legs, fingers, and toes to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.

Stay inside. When using ALTERNATIVE HEAT from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc.:
• use fire safeguards.
• properly ventilate.
No heat:
• close off unneeded rooms.
• stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors.
• cover windows at night.
Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration.
Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON PREPAREDNESS DOWNLOAD THE WINTER STORMS BROCHURE