Winter Safety

Remedying the problem of ice dams

Frozen ponds and ice rinks may make for enjoyable ways to enjoy the ice come the cold-weather months. But there are many ways ice can be a formidable foe when the mercury drops. Ice dams are a problem faced by many homeowners, and they can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to homes.

Ice dams usually occur after a heavy snowstorm that causes snow to pile up on the roof. Prolonged cold snaps may cause the snow to stay put up there for a while. The snow begins to melt from warm air inside of the house, leaking into the attic and coming in contact with the underside of the roof. The melted snow then drains along the roof, under the snow, until it reaches the cold overhang of the roof. The overhang is usually the same temperature as the outdoors, which causes the melted snow to refreeze and form an ice dam and icicles.
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Safety first with snowblowers

Snowblowers make fast work of snow covering driveways and sidewalks, which makes them popular purchases for homeowners looking to avoid shoveling this season. But The Amputee Coalition of America urges safe operation when firing up the snowblower this year.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, recent injury reports indicate almost 600 finger amputations occur due to improper operation of snow blowers or snow throwers. The majority of these incidents happen when users attempt to clear snow from the discharge chute or debris from the augers with their hands.
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A blizzard is one of winter's great storms

Every winter comes with its own warnings of nasty weather. Blizzard-like conditions is a popular term used in conjunction with a snowstorm. People may wonder what actually constitutes a blizzard and just how common it can be.

Blizzards are often associated with heavy snowfalls. However, they can also be caused simply by strong winds blowing around existing snow. The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as large amounts of falling or blowing snow with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibility of less than 1/4 of a mile for an extended period of time (greater than 3 hours). In essence, it is the limitation of visibility that often defines a blizzard and not entirely the snowfall totals.
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Defining black ice

Traffic reports often make mention of black ice during the colder weather. It can certainly sound ominous, and it's often very dangerous. But what exactly is black ice?

Black ice is a thin coating of ice that forms on roadways and other surfaces. It often occurs from freezing drizzle, wind-blown snow or freezing condensation. Because black ice is so thin, the ice appears to be the same color of the surface material beneath the ice. Therefore, on asphalt roads, the ice can be nearly invisible and black in color -- hence the name. Unlike snow or ice that is readily visible, black ice is very hard to see, which makes it very dangerous for motorists.
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