December 9-11 Midwest Ice Storm Study/Discussion

[Jeff Miller]

This thread is to discuss the unusual dynamics meteorologically that led to one of the worst ice storms to strike the midwest in recent times.

With that some opening questions:

1. How did this Ice Storm rank scientifically?
2. How did it rank personally to you?

Also a great thread to discuss and study the overall meteorological dynamics of this incredible ice storm event that has caused over 600,000 to lose power, and caused damage of a disaster level across the plains, and archive plots/surface obs/etc.

 

[Maggie Kahman]

I will go with ? number 2. Personally, where i am at right now (Fairfield), we got SUPER lucky. As far as Damages go (trees, powerlines), we faired pretty dang good, gonna say about a 10, dont think we even *had* any damage. (10 being best). Streets...eh, not so good, a 5 to about a 7.

Now, Going with what pictures i have seen, Norman and KC (among others) got hosed. Dont think the scale goes low enough to actually give it a rating.

 

[Andrew Ryan]

I think this storm could have been a lot worse, in Norman, if there was wind, any what so ever, and/or if the soil temps were cooler, during the storm they were about 41F. But I have never been through an ice storm before.

Personal: 1
Meteorological: 3

(based on the rating system already established, 1(worst)-10(best))