Gen Mitchell International, Wisconsin

... The impact winter weather has on US... part 7...

... Wisconsin winter awareness week is November 09-13...

... General impact on society...
deep... 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 roofs of 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.
-The cost of snow removal... repairing damages... and loss of
business can have a large economic impact on cities and towns.

... Winter storm impacts...
winter storms can possess the following characteristics...

-strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding
wind driven snow... severe drifting... and dangerous wind chill.
-Strong winds of 50 to 70 mph with intense storms and cold
fronts can knock down trees... utility poles and power lines.
-Storms near Lake Michigan or Lake Superior shorelines can cause
coastal flooding and beach erosion.

... Ground blizzard impacts...
they are rare... but sometimes a ground blizzard can strike southern
and central Wisconsin.

-The sun may be shining... but strong winds in excess of 40 mph can
pick up loose... dry snow off the ground. This blowing snow can
reduce visibilities to only a few feet in areas where there are
no trees or buildings.
-If you are traveling in a ground blizzard... you may get the
sensation of driving in a Ball of Cotton. Serious multiple
vehicle accidents can result with many injuries and deaths.

... Extreme cold impacts...
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.
-Pipes may freeze and burst in homes and buildings that are
poorly insulated or without heat.

... Ice storm impacts...
ice storms can bring travel to a standstill... and also result
in a lot of property damage.

-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. Vehicle traction and braking
ability may become non existent.

... Dense fog impacts...
another hazard is dense fog. Visibilities may drop to near zero...
making it impossible to see other vehicles until it is too late.
If motorists would slow down during dense fog events the number of
vehicle accidents would be much less.

-On average... about 1200 vehicle accidents occur each year
in Wisconsin during dense fog episodes... resulting in about 15
deaths and 700 injuries.
-A typical winter in Wisconsin will usually feature a half dozen
cases in which dense fog reduces visibilities to less than
1/4 mile... or even down to near zero.
-In the worst cases... there can be a multiple vehicle accident
consisting of 15 to 50 vehicles. You literally may not see the
vehicle in front of you until it is too late.
-Historically... the Mississippi and Wisconsin river valleys
tend to have more dense fog events. This is due to cold air
drainage and moisture evaporation from the river waters.
-Locations near Lake Superior and Lake Michigan also tend to have
more dense fog events compared to other inland locations.

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For more information on winter weather... visit...

     http://www.NWS.NOAA.Gov/om/winter /all lower case/
     http://www.Crh.NOAA.Gov/mkx/?N=winter-wx-awwareness