Ice Storm Alfalfa #4

by J McCombie

Title

Ice Storm Alfalfa #4

Artist

J McCombie

Medium

Photograph - Untouched

Description

This piece has been featured in the FAA "Macro Photography Group" and "Artist News".
As the freezing rain continued from morning through night and into the next day, even the tiniest shoots in the field accumulated ice along their stems. Yet, with the weight of the ice, they did not break. The ice formed a protective sleeve and the alfalfa kept it's shape as it rose out of the ice encrusted snow that covered ground.
The sun peeked through the clouds as it rose after the storm and the fields glistened with amber, as if golden Christmas lights twinkled under the rising sun. As the clouds scattered, the ice glazed alfalfa mounds shone as brightly as layers of gold chains. The midday sun and clear blue skies brought twinkling silver, blue, orange and red and the evening sunset changed those colours to blue, purple and pink. And so, the ever changing colour and breathtaking beauty of the ice storm.
An ice storm is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain, also known as a glaze event or, in some parts of the United States, as a silver thaw. The U.S. National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) of ice on exposed surfaces. From 1982 to 1994, ice storms were more common than blizzards and averaged 16 per year. They are not violent storms, but instead commonly perceived as gentle rains occurring at temperatures just below freezing. For this reason people may be unaware of the danger if it happens overnight.
The freezing rain from an ice storm covers everything with heavy, smooth glaze ice. In addition to hazardous driving or walking conditions, branches or even whole trees may break from the weight of ice. Falling branches can block roads, tear down power and telephone lines, and cause other damage. Even without falling trees and tree branches, the weight of the ice itself can easily snap power lines and also break and bring down power/utility poles; even electricity pylons with steel frames. This can leave people without power for anywhere from several days to a month. According to most meteorologists, just one quarter of an inch of ice accumulation can add about 500 pounds (230 kg) of weight per line span. Damage from ice storms is highly capable of shutting down entire metropolitan areas.

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December 30th, 2013

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