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Ice storms have a variety of negative effects on society. Through an analysis of newspaper accounts of nine exceptional ice storms, the most widespread and longest lasting impact is the loss of electrical power. Power outages also cause secondary effects, such as carbon monoxide poisoning and fire, and they can force people to leave their homes because of a lack of heat. Other impacts of ice storms are transportation disruptions, school and business closings, and economic losses to agriculture and some business sectors. However, some businesses, such as those associated with the hospitality sector, actually benefit from ice storms. Modern power outages have a longer duration than those associated with earlier storms. Rural areas are most likely to suffer from long power outages because utilities prioritize areas with greater numbers of customers and because fallen trees may limit accessibility. Several suggestions for reducing electrical disruption, such as aggressive tree-trimming programs and burial of lines, are analyzed. While these may help, less reliance on electricity for lighting and heating systems could also provide a benefit.

No abstract

While most people know anecdotally that weather affects traffic, relatively little research has examined the correlation between snow and traffic in great detail. Most studies have also been difficult to generalize for other areas and regions where drivers may be accustomed to more (or less) snow. This study examines the relationship between snow and traffic volumes in western New York State, an area that is regularly inundated by snow (more than 225 cm most seasons). Total daily traffic counts for the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90) showed a moderate negative correlation to snow for the period of study (2003–10). However, this correlation is caused by the large number of passenger cars and other similar vehicles on the road. Most other vehicle types, such as tractor trailers, had no correlation whatsoever. Additionally, the results for all vehicle classes were similar for both suburban and rural areas. Finally, it was observed that the ratio of large to small vehicles increases during snow events.

Motor vehicle crashes are a significant cause of death and injury worldwide, and adverse weather conditions are often a primary or underlying cause of crashes. This study focuses specifically on how weather contributes to multi-vehicle 'chain-reaction' crashes. Such crashes occur when a single crash halts traffic on a roadway and triggers a series of additional crashes due to motorists being unable to stop in time. Weather often contributes to such crashes by limiting visibility or making a roadway slick. By using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this study found that more than 100 such crashes occurred between 2001 and 2012, and weather conditions were a factor in more than half of them. Radar, observations and satellite imagery were analysed for both 1 h before and 1 h after the crash to see if any diagnostic patterns were observed. Radar and observations were most useful for snow-related crashes. Dramatic increases in snow intensity and corresponding decreases in visibility were observed before most crashes. Dust-related crashes also show substantial decreases in visibility just before the crash. Satellite imagery sometimes showed plumes of dust in these cases. Meteorologists, law enforcement officials and others may find the results helpful in recognizing situations that could lead to multi-vehicle chain-reaction crashes, allowing them to take preventative action to reduce the risk of such crashes.