Sem#2 Chap 3

Question 1

Hazardous winter weather list:

Answer 1

• Cold, snow, ice, and wind
• Traffic accidents
• Commerce disruptions
• Potential casualties

Question 2

Winter weather advisory

Answer 2

There is an anticipation that freezing rain and/or snow will accumulate sufficiently to cause inconvenience and hazards

Question 3

Winter storm watch

Answer 3

There is a possibility of hazardous winter weather in the next 48 hours; the weather can
be a combination of snow, sleet, ice accumulation, and wind, significant enough to cause
damage and/or life-threatening situations

Question 4

Winter storm warning

Answer 4

The conditions stated for a winter storm watch are occurring or are imminent.

Question 5

Blizzard warning

Answer 5

Conditions expected to occur during the next 12–18 hours include snow and/or blowing
snow, reducing visibility to ≤0.40 km (≤0.25 mi) for 3 hours or longer, and sustained winds of ≥56 km/h (≥35 mph).

Question 6

Ice storm warning

Answer 6

A hazardous amount of ice (generally meaning ≥0.64 cm, or ≥0.25 in) will accumulate on
roads, trees, power lines, and other structures.

Question 7

Freeze watch

Answer 7

Temperatures are expected to fall below 0°C (32°F) within the next 1–1.5 days during the
growing season, damaging plants and crops.

Question 8

Freeze warning

Answer 8

Temperatures will fall below 0°C (32°F) during the growing season, damaging plants and
crops.

Question 9

Frost advisory

Answer 9

A potential exists that temperatures may fall below 0°C (32°F) during the growing season, damaging plants and crops.

Question 10

Wind chill advisory

Answer 10

The combination of cool temperatures and wind could lead to frostbite for exposed skin or to hypothermia.

Question 11

Wind chill warning

Answer 11

The combination of cool temperatures and wind will quickly lead to frostbite for exposed skin or to hypothermia.

Question 12

Reasons for the Atlanta Disaster

Answer 12

 Lack of widespread public transportation
* Private cars clogged roads.
 Slow public response
* Students and employees released after storm began.
Drivers lacked experience driving in snow and ice.
* Accidents halt traffic flow.
 Poor emergency response:
* Many municipalities sprawl across the region.
* No comprehensive, regional emergency coordination.

Question 13

Frostbite occurs when ….

Answer 13

when body tissue freezes.

Question 14

Body must maintain a core temperature of _____C.

Answer 14

37°

Question 15

Hypothermia

Answer 15

• When core temperature drops below safe range
• Mild, then severe, shivering
• Death results if core stays below 33.3°C

Question 16

Wind chill temperature

Answer 16

• Represents heat loss when dry skin is exposed to wind
• Depicts exposure time that leads to frostbite

 Your body creates a thin layer of warm air next to your skin.
 Wind strips away warm layer, causing you to lose heat.
 Wet skin cools faster than dry skin due to evaporation.

Question 17

Class Question #1

Identify the common link between Atlanta’s “Snowpocalypse” of 2014,
Napoleon’s defeat in 1812, and Germany’s defeat in 1942.

a) Traffic accidents prevented food and clothing supplies from
reaching people in their vehicles.

b) People and organizations were unprepared for hazardous winter
weather conditions.

c) Inadequate regional coordination created flight delays and
cancellations.

d) Officials ignored winter advisories from the National Weather
Service (NWS).

Answer 17

d) Officials ignored winter advisories from the National Weather
Service (NWS)

Question 18

Polar front:

Answer 18

• The boundary between cold polar air and warmer air
• Stretches around globe, normally at high latitudes

Question 19

Polar vortex:

Answer 19

• Counterclockwise flow of polar air
• Circulates around the North Pole

Question 20

Polar front jet stream:

Answer 20

• Traces out the southern edge of the polar vortex

Question 21

Sometimes polar front extends ______

Answer 21

far south.

Question 22

Polar front normally exists between _______ latitude

Answer 22

40°–60°

Question 23

Cold waves

Answer 23

• Defined relative to normal, expected conditions
• Require society to take precautions against cold

Question 24

Snowfall intensity depends on _________

Answer 24

visibility

Question 25

3 Types of Visibility

Answer 25

• Light: visibility >1 km
• Moderate: visibility 1–0.5 km
• Heavy: visibility < 0.5 km

Question 26

Snowpack

Answer 26

is a composite layer of multiple snowfalls.

Question 27

Blizzards are defined based on two criteria:

Answer 27

• 1. Winds >56 km/h
• 2. Visibility <0.40 km for 3 hours

Question 28

Whiteout conditions:

Answer 28

• Visibility reduced to 0 km.
• People cannot distinguish between the ground and sky.

Question 29

Ground blizzards

Answer 29

• Occur in clear weather
• Wind blows dry snow ~15 meters high.

Question 30

Hazardous Conditions from Ice Storms

Answer 30

 Surfaces become coated in ice from freezing rain.
 A warm, moist air mass flows above a cold air mass.
* Precipitation begins as snow or rain.
 0°C isotherm: the boundary separating warmer and colder air
 Ice storms occur when precipitation falls through the 0°C isotherm.
 Precipitation type depends on location relative to 0°C isotherm.

Question 31

Different Types of percipetation

Answer 31

Rain: Air is above-freezing

Freezing rain: Supercooled rain freezes on contact with surfaces. (0 degrees)

Sleet: Warm air wedge is not very
deep, nor very warm.

• Snow falling through warm
  air wedge partially melts.

Snow: Air is below freezing.

Question 32

Class Question #2

What happened to precipitation during the Great Ice Storm of 1998?

a) Rain fell through the 0°C isotherm and was supercooled.

b) Rain fell from high elevations, through a warm air mass, all the way
to the ground.

c) Snow fell from high elevations, through a cold air mass, all the way
to the ground.

d) Snow falling through the 0°C isotherm partially melted.

Answer 32

a) Rain fell through the 0°C isotherm and was supercooled.
(correct answer)

Question 33

Most winter storms occur within _________ (what type of storm)

Answer 33

mid-latitude cyclones

Question 34

Mid-latitude cyclones during winter differ from summer by characteristics of:

Answer 34

• More frequent, intense, and bigger than during summer
• Large temperature contrast between poles and tropics

Mid-latitude cyclones resemble a comma

Question 35

Nor’easters:

Answer 35

• Storms with strong winds blowing from the northeast
• Create severe storms along east coast of N. America

Question 36

Oceanic Cyclones

Answer 36

 Wintertime mid-latitude cyclones over oceans

 Common in northeastern Pacific and north Atlantic

 Stronger than continental mid-latitude cyclones:

• Warm water provides energy for the storm.
• Wind has no barriers to block or slow its flow.

 Ships and offshore drilling platforms are at risk.

 Create intense storms when making landfall

Question 37

Class Question #3

Why are nor’easter storms called nor’easters?

a) because the northeastern quadrant of these storms is the most
intense

b) because they only impact the southeastern states of the U.S.

c) because these storms generate waves that blow from the southwest
to the northeast

d) because strong winds blow from the northeast

Answer 37

d) because strong winds blow from the northeast (correct
answer)

Question 38

Cold Air Damming

Answer 38

 When low-altitude cold air is trapped by a mountain range
 Seen on the eastern side of Appalachian Mountains
Often creates ice storms:
* Warm, moist ocean air moves inland.
* Warm air rises above cold air.
* Precipitation falls through the 0°C isotherm.
 May cause freezing rain in South Carolina and Georgia

Question 39

Lake-Effect Snowstorms

Answer 39

 The Great Lakes retain heat and moisture late into the year.
 Heat and moisture rise as cold, Canadian air passes over lakes.
 Clouds form and precipitate snow on downwind shores.
 Common in late November and early January
 May develop after a mid-latitude cyclone’s cold front passes a lake
 Snow may fall at 2.5 cm/hr for several days.
 Impact zone is ~50–80 km from shore.

Question 40

Orographic uplift creates ______

Answer 40

clouds on windward flanks.

Definition: Terrain forces winds/air to flow upwards

Question 41

Mountain Snowstorms

Answer 41

 Orographic uplift creates clouds on windward flanks.
 Clouds precipitate snow during winter months.
 Create the heaviest snowstorms and snowpacks in the world
 Common in western, Rocky Mountain states
 Often force closure of east-west interstate highways
 Triggered avalanches ensure safe roads
 Melting snowpack provides power generation and irrigation.

Question 42

Class Question #4

What type of hazardous winter weather is South Carolina most likely to
experience?

a) blizzards
b) lake-effect snowstorms
c) ice storms
d) mountain snowstorms

Answer 42

c) ice storms (correct answer)

Question 43

Bora

Answer 43

A strong, cold windstorm

Question 44

Hazardous winter weather can be fatal. (list stuff)

Answer 44

• Traffic accidents
• Heart attacks from shoveling
• Falls on slippery surfaces
• Infection from frostbite
• Hypothermia
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

Question 45

Safe traveling on roads: (list of what to prepair)

Answer 45

• Cell phone and charger
• Clothing, blanket, food, water
• Remain in car if stranded
• Ensure tailpipe is clear if
  running engine while stuck

Question 46

If aircraft cannot de-ice:

Answer 46

• Must remain grounded during winter months
• Fly only in warmer climates where icing is less likely

Question 47

_______ and ______ are used to
de-ice aircraft prior to flight.

Answer 47

Glycol and water

Question 48

Aircraft become unstable
from ______ and may crash.

Answer 48

ice

Question 49

Property Damage and Hazardous Winter Weather

Answer 49

 Homes may experience burst water pipes and flooded rooms.
 Water mains may burst, cutting off water to neighborhoods.
 Electric grid may fail, cutting off power to millions of people.
 Highways, railroads, and airports may close.
 Ice jams may halt river transportation.
 Transportation disruptions cause supply shortages.
 Hoarding goods exacerbates supply shortages.

Question 50

Winter weather commonly causes _______ .

Answer 50

Economic damage

Question 51

Preparing for Winter-Weather Disasters: Vulnerability is increasing:

Answer 51

• Climate change
• Decaying infrastructure

Question 52

Preparing for Winter-Weather Disasters: Community investments:

Answer 52

• Plows, salt and sand trucks
• Backup generators

Question 53

Preparing for Winter-Weather Disasters: Electrical grid protection:

Answer 53

• Bury power lines
• Prune trees
• Reinforce cell towers
• Invest in weather resistant equipment
• Ensure reserve electrical generating capacity

Question 54

Class Question #5

Identify how China’s 2008 winter disaster was similar to Texas’s 2021
winter disaster.

a) The electric grid failed.
b) Homes were damaged from burst water pipes.
c) Water supplies were disrupted.
d) All of the listed winter disasters occurred in China and Texas.

Answer 54

d) All of the listed winter disasters occurred in China and Texas.
(correct answer)