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Why was the 1998 ice storm important?
It caused massive damage to trees and electrical infrastructure all over the area, leading to widespread long-term power outages. Millions were left in the dark for periods varying from days to several weeks, and in some instances, months.
How did the 1998 ice storm affect people?
Casualties and Damage from the Ice Storm of 1998 About 600,000 people had to leave their homes. 130 power transmission towers were destroyed and more than 30,000 utility poles fell. Millions of trees fell, and more continued to break and fall for the rest of the winter.
What is the most famous ice storm?
Famous ice storms in North America
- Thickest recorded ice accumulation.
- The Great Ice Storm of 1998.
- The New England Ice Storm of December 2008.
- The January 2009 ice storm.
- The Big Freeze of 2009-2010.
- The December ice storm in Moscow 2010.
How did the 1998 ice storm affect the environment?
Because of the more than 100 mm of freezing rain that fell for days across the region, more than 30,000 wooden hydro poles were shattered and over 1,000 large metal pylons collapsed due to the weight of the ice. The effect on millions of trees was devastating.
How did the great ice storm of 1998 form?
Like other major ice storms that have affected the Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence region, the storm resulted from a combination of low-pressure warm air currents from the Gulf of Mexico and high-pressure cold currents from the Arctic.
How many people died in the ice storm of 98?
Thousands of trees and power lines fell due to the weight of the ice that formed, falling on cars, houses, and roads. The property damage as a result of the storm was estimated to be over $3 billion dollars, millions of people lost electricity, and nearly 40 fatalities were reported.
Why did the ice storm happen?
Ice storms are caused by freezing rain. The raindrops move into a thin layer of below-freezing air right near the surface of the earth, allowing them to freeze on contact to the ground, trees, cars and other objects. Throughout the US, ice storms occur most often during the months of December and January.
How did the 1998 ice storm form?
How do ice storms impact humans?
Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees and topple utility poles and communication towers. Ice can disrupt communications and power for days while utility companies repair extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians.
What happened in the ice storm of 1998 in Canada?
Canadian Ice Storm of 1998 1 Date 2 Location 3 Size of the Ice Storm of 1998. The water equivalent of freezing rain, ice pellets, and a little snow was double previous major ice storms. 4 Casualties and Damage from the Ice Storm of 1998. Over 4 million people in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick lost power. 5 Summary of Ice Storm of 1998.
How did the ice storm affect the power in Ontario?
As the storm continued, layers of ice built up, weighing down power lines and poles, and causing massive power outages. At the height of the ice storm, 57 communities in Ontario and 200 in Quebec declared a disaster. More than 3 million people were without power in Quebec and 1.5 million in Eastern Ontario.
How many insurance claims were filed in the 1998 ice storm?
By June 1998, about 600,000 insurance claims totaling more than $1 billion were filed. Freezing rain started on Monday, January 5, 1998, as Canadians were starting back to work after the Christmas holidays. The storm coated everything in glassy ice, making all forms of transportation treacherous.
How many people were affected by the ice storm in 2003?
About 600,000 people had to leave their homes. 130 power transmission towers were destroyed and more than 30,000 utility poles fell. Millions of trees fell, and more continued to break and fall for the rest of the winter. The estimated cost of the ice storm was $5,410,184,000.