“When winter weather turns to ice, the damage can come from weight, not wind. Branches will bow, power lines will sag, and simple tasks become life-or-death decisions especially in the South, where prolonged freezes are less frequent.” Forecasters said the situation was a “widespread potentially catastrophic event from Texas to the Carolinas,” said Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “I don’t know how people are going to deal with it,” he said.
Ice storms also have a tendency to stick around. When the temperatures remain below freezing after the precipitation has stopped, hazardous roads and power lines can affect a person’s daily routine for days, not hours.
1. Ice is heavier than it appears
A thin layer of ice can become a weight-bearing issue once it covers everything at once. “If you get a half of an inch of ice – or heaven forbid an inch of ice – that could be catastrophic,” said Keith Avery, CEO of the Newberry Electric Cooperative in South Carolina. Ice is expected to build up on roads, trees, and power lines, making it more likely for widespread power outages as lines and tree limbs break under the weight of ice.
2. The most dangerous moment can be after the precipitation ends
In most winter storms, the news is about what’s falling from the sky. In ice storms, the larger problem may be what’s left behind. Slow-warm situations may keep roads and sidewalks iced over well into the commute and school day, especially in shaded areas and bridges and overpasses. In metro Atlanta, temperatures in the mid-20s and highs in the mid-30s were mentioned as conditions that could prevent ice from melting.
3. A cold-and-wet clash is the classic recipe
The kind of temperature layering that leads to sleet and freezing rain was expected because of the arctic air mass moving south and the moisture moving in from the Gulf of Mexico, said forecasters. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Jackson described the approaching cold air as “extreme, even for this being the peak of winter.” When cold air meets rain, the result is “a major winter storm with very impactful weather, with all the moisture coming up from the Gulf and encountering all this particularly cold air that’s spilling in,” he said.
4. Forecast uncertainty is part of the risk
Ice lines can change rapidly, and even a small change in temperature can turn rain into freezing rain. This is why the “where” part of an ice storm is difficult to predict, and why watches and warnings can change as models come together. North Texas forecasts included areas where temperatures could stay below freezing for about 89 hours, which is a longer period of time that increases the chances of secondary issues such as refreezing and difficulties in power restoration.
5. Travel problems spread beyond roads
There may be fewer resources available in Southern states to deal with snow and ice, and the longer the cold weather, the less effective treatments may be once the ice forms. Disruptions to travel also trickle down through hub airports such as Dallas, Atlanta, Memphis, and Charlotte. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, CEO Ricky Smith stated, “We are equally prepared going into the upcoming weekend,” and, “Our snow teams don’t get a lot of opportunities to engage in a snow event, so we are doing a lot of preparation.”
6. Home preparation is centered on heat, water, and power
Cold weather stresses a home in predictable patterns: heat escaping through openings, pipes freezing on the exterior walls, and increased use of electricity. Tips that were passed along included sealing gaps, maintaining gutters, insulating pipes that are exposed, and locating the main water shut-off. For extended periods of freezing weather, some homeowners keep faucets dripping overnight on the exterior walls and open cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing.
7. Pets and plants are part of the winter plan
Preparation does not end with people. The message from the SPCA of Texas was simple: “if you’re cold outside, odds are your pet is cold too,” and outdoor animals may need shelter and bedding that stays dry and insulated. Many perennials in pots can be brought indoors, while susceptible outdoor plants can be covered with blankets or frost cloth to retain warmth near the soil.
8. Road construction teams think in large volumes, but motorists must practice self-control
States lay out salt, brine, and equipment before ice because the window of opportunity to treat roads may be short once the temperatures drop. The transportation department in South Carolina reported that it had 60,000 tons of salt and 1,200 pieces of equipment ready and that its staff were trained to deal with winter conditions. Despite such preparations, untreated areas, refreezing, and fallen trees can make “short trips” unpredictable.
Ice storms mean that everything becomes a matter of triage: what can be powered, what needs to be warmed, what can wait, and what absolutely must be traveled to. The specifics differ from county to county and from mountain to mountain, but the hot spots are the same: weight on the wires, cold that clings, and a thin line between success and failure. For families, the most resilient strategy is simply to keep things charged, protect plumbing, bring pets inside, and consider travel optional if conditions worsen. “During an ice event, staying home is often the safest form of preparedness.”
