Major Ice Storm Impacts Austria

Here in the United States, we’re somewhat used to seeing significant ice storms.  An ice storm occurs when there is a shallow pool of cold air at the surface, but the temperatures a couple thousand feet above the surface are above freezing.  This causes the precipitation to fall as rain into the below freezing air at the surface, and that rain supercools and freezes on contact with any surface at or below freezing.

We generally see at least one major ice a year across the US, and locally we see significant ice events about every 3 or 4 years. Because of this, we are more accustomed to handling them (unless they are on the order of the 2009 event), and know what to do when one strikes.  In Europe, this is much different, as showcased by a the severe ice storm that has impacted parts of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.  According to the UK International Business Times,

“Electric trains and tram transport across the Czech Republic were badly disrupted when ice formed on overhead lines as temperatures dropped following rain. Czech Railways says the entire country has been hit, including the major line that links Prague with the eastern part of the country. In Austria and southern Germany, firefighters have been busy clearing hundreds of trees weighed down with a thick layer of ice.”

Some of the pictures that have come out of this event are just ridiculous and so cool to look at, as this event looks like it was a combination of freezing rain in some areas and dense freezing fog across others. Have a look!

 Check out this link for more information and photos related to this event.