Ice
Freezing
rain and sleet often cause major problems for travel
and sometimes life threatening situations across the
Bi-State area. Freezing rain, which is rain that freezes
when it comes into contact with an object creating
a glaze, can be especially dangerous.
Ice
storms produce a significant accumulation (1/4 inch
or more) of ice during freezing rain. To produce this
amount of ice, freezing rain usually has to occur
for several hours. This glaze of ice carries a substantial
amount of weight and can bring down trees and power
lines and leave thousands without power for several
days. Travel can be difficult since we all know how
difficult it is to drive on a sheet of ice. Pedestrians
also have a difficult time which can result in falls
and broken bones.
Ice
Leads To Bumpy Roads
One
of the many aftermaths of winter storms is bumpy roads
filled with potholes. Often, as temperatures warm
above freezing and then refreeze, many streets and
roads are left with numerous potholes caused by ice.
These potholes can be caused by the water seeping
into cracks in the road surface and then expanding
as it freezes. This just makes the crack larger and
eventually can break up a whole area into a pothole.
Potholes
can also be caused by expanding ice pushing soil down
away from the asphalt surface. When the ice melts,
a cavity is formed. As cars and trucks drive over
these cavities, the weight causes the asphalt to collapse,
creating numerous potholes. The pothole problem is
worsened during periods of slow melting, where above-freezing
days allow melting and below-freezing nights cause
a refreezing of the water beneath the asphalt surface.
Download How to Go On Ice and Snow provided by AAA
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