A recent East Coast winter storm that produced copious freezing rain is a fresh reminder that we are in the heart of the ice storm season. How can you prepare before the next winter storm brings significant icing? We have advice to help you out.

Historically, ice storms are most common when warm air moves over a cold, Arctic air mass. This most often occurs during the climatologically coldest part of winter, which is mid-to-late January into early February. Additionally, ice storms are most frequent between the Plains and Piedmont area of the Appalachians.

Ice storms are well-known for pruning trees, damaging or knocking down small branches. Before the next ice storm strikes, trim weak or damaged branches near your home so they don’t come cascading down on your home during an ice storm. Keep your car parked away from trees because even a quarter to half inch of ice is heavy enough to bring down large branches. Keep your WeatherBug application handy to monitor forecasts because even if the ice accumulation is not expected to exceed a quarter inch, a combination of ice on trees and gusty winds after the storm departs is significant enough to cause tree damage and your car could be a victim of a falling limb.

If you’ve ever scraped your windshield following an ice storm, you probably know how difficult it is to remove the ice accretion under your windshield wipers. When trying to lift your windshield wipers, the rubber wiper blade can easily rip, leaving you to replace them. Raising your wipers before the storm moves in will save you time and money in the long run.

Heavy ice accretion weighs down power lines and can leave you in the dark. It’s best to have a week’s worth of non-perishable food and prescriptions. Make sure your cell phone is fully charged just before the storm arrives in case the power goes out and charging the phone is no longer an option.

When the power goes out during the storm, close the blinds or curtains to retain heat inside your home. Close doors to each room to conserve heat and to keep outside cold air from seeping into your home, put towels or rags in the cracks under the doors. Wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing to trap your body heat and avoid caffeine and alcohol.

Following this simple advice will help you, your family, house and car survive the next ice storm. Keep WeatherBug active on your phone and/or computer to follow the forecast closely for your area this winter.

Source: NOAA
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Story Image: An ice-covered tree branch is seen following an ice storm. (Courtesy of Pixabay.com)

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