FreezingRainPurple

Introduction
Freezing rain is rain that becomes super cooled and freezes upon impact with other cold surfaces. This rain starts out as snow, goes through a warm layer of air and melts (1). Just before it hits the surface the rain falls through a cold layer super cooling the rain and freezing on impact (1). Danger Freezing rain is dangerous because it is transparent and slick. It can be harmful on sidewalks, power lines and roads. On sidewalks it can be harmful because you can fall and injure your self. The weight of freezing rain on power lines can get up to 4 tons of ice,this could cut off communication of millions of people (3). Automobile accidents are likely to occur in a ice storm due to the slippery roads (3).

Conditions of Formation

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Freezing rain starts as snow (f reezing rain diagram). Snow is formed when water vapor turns into ice (2). When the temperature is less that 32 degrees Fahrenheit these ice crystals form (2). Freezing rain develops as falling snow encounters a layer of warm airdee p enough for the snow to completely melt and become rain (1). As the rai n falls it passes through a thin layer of cold  ====== ai r just above the surface and cools the temperature of below freezing (1). These rain drops do not freeze but are very cold, when they hit cold ground they freeze.

Historical Examples ====Two sever examples of freezing rain happened in 1921 and 1973. In 1921, Worcester, Ma saw up to four inches of ice(4). This storm paralyzed towns for weeks. For a few days connection with the out side world was completely cut off (6). In 1973 Connecticut had one of it's worst ice storms. The pounds of ice that accumulated on trees and wires cut off power of 250,00 homes and businesses (6). One of the main problems of this storm was that most of the 250,000 homes heating was shut down(6). Eight deaths were attributed, six of them were from asphyxiation(6). The total of the clean up bill averaged out to be around 12.5 million dollars (6).==== Safety

Safety precautions for freezing rain are fairly simple and easy to prepare for. Avoid driving during an ice storm, the roads can become slippery and dangerous to drive on (3). If you do decide to drive during an ice storm, having a emergency supply kit is important. The kit should include a jumper cable, emergency flares, sand or salt, a shovel, and a tow rope (4). Having one of these at home is recommended as well. The house kit should include a crank radio, flashlight, non perishable food, first aid kit, blanket or sleeping bag, and a lot of water (4). If you decide to go outside you should dress extremely warm and wear shoes with that have good grip on the bottom because of the ice makes the sidewalk slippery and slick this can be dangerous to walk on (4).

Sources 1. //freezing rain//. University of Illiniois,  30 Nov. 2010. 

 2. Robert Roy Britt, //how is snow formed?//

2009. 

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">3. //Dangers to People//. University of Illinois <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">2010, <http://www.ww2010.atmos.viuc.edu>

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">4. David Rodennisher, //precautions for Possible Freezing Rain.// <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;"><http://www.novascotia.gov>

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px;">5. //Freezing rain Medford Oregon: Analysis of a high-impact event.// Shad Keene, 2009, Medford Oregon. <www.wrh.hoaa.gov/wth/talite/1003.pdf>