|
|
| |
...WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS PART THREE...
Automobile accidents are the leading cause of deaths and injuries during and
after winter storms. While snow and ice contribute to the slippery conditions,
vehicle speed is a major factor in determining the likelihood of a death or
serious injury from an automobile or truck accident. Under certain conditions,
untreated surfaces can become extremely slippery from an inch or less of snow or
just from freezing drizzle. Black ice can interrupt normal dry surface travel
and spin up an accident. Black ice is unexpectedly iced over asphalt pavement
found under clear sky nighttime conditions. It can be caused by daytime
meltwater from roadside snowbanks freezing after sundown...or from frost
developing on road surfaces as high relative humidity condenses on the below
freezing surfaces. Since both of these conditions are not falling precipitation,
motorists may not be alert to the conditions. When the NWS becomes aware of a
developing black ice situation, statements are also issued. Wind combined with
ice or wet snow laden tree limbs can cause power outages and in some
cases...injury or property damage. If your car is not garaged and wind warnings
are issued, it may be of value to park your car where tree limbs cannot blow
onto your vehicle. A climatology of non thunderstorm high wind events in
Southern New England shows the majority occur during the cool season from
November through March. Our study found the primary damaging wind directions, 8
points on the compass, to be Westerly and Southerly. A secondary maximum is
associated with Northeast wind. South or West case damaging wind can occur
anywhere in Southern New England. Nor'Easter associated damaging wind tends to
occur from Hartford to Northern Rhode Island and then in much of the
Massachusetts and Southeast Rhode Island Coastal Plain.
|
|
agawamem.org
