Maines historic ice storm of 1998 brought extraordinary. Looking back on the 1998 ice storm 20 years later cbc news. But it could be argued that nothing will ever compare to the ice storm which struck the north country in january 1998. In other parts of the country, the storm caused floods across the south and spread thick, clinging ice across the northeast and the eastern third of canada. The nashville, tennessee ice storm of january 29 february 1, 1951. More than 110,000 people lost power in the 7,000 squaremile area of northern new york. Ahead of the ice storm, heavy sleet and snow fell in many areas of new england. The worst ice storm in decades paralyzed wide sections of western and northern new york state yesterday, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and shutting down businesses, schools, government offices and transportation over wide areas. But even the hardiest souls find themselves astonished at the scope of damage wrought by the huge ice storm that has paralyzed much of upstate new york and.
The infrastructure is generally prepared for the havoc these storms can wreak, but winter 1998 brought with it the most crippling ice storm in living memory. An ice storm paralyzes western and northern new york. An ice storm in 2009 centered from northern arkansas to the ohio valley knocked out power to 1. Winter storm linus brings travel headaches around new york.
The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as ice storm of 1998 and ice storm 98 was a massive ice storm that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec to nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to southeast maine in the united states, in january 1998. The ice storm of 1998 came with no howling winds, no torrents of floodwater, no seismic convulsions, not even a clap of thunder. Forestland covers 40 million acres of this region, and 17 million acres of those forests were damaged by the storm. Weather disasters sometimes turn into misery contests. The regional ice storm of early january 1998 was a widespread disturbance for millions of acres of forest in northeastern new york, northern new england, and southern quebec. The ice storm affected a large part of eastern ontario, southwest quebec, and new york state. What ice storm accumulations mean and how to stay safe. By 5 january 1998 it was clear eastern north america was in for a cold spell. Deadly ice storm spreads into midwest, targets new england.
Maines historic ice storm of 1998 brought extraordinary destruction and cooperation. Silvicultural approaches for managing icedamaged stands the severe ice storm of january 1998 caused damage on an estimated 17 million acres of forestland across maine, new hampshire, vermont, and new york. The weather doctor almanac 2008 the great ice storm of 1998. Liquidequivalent precipitation totals, which fell exclusively as freezing rain, reached as high as 11 cm at some observing sites in northwestern new york. This map shows the accumulation of freezing rain in those areas. In january, a freezing rain fell for several days paralyzing a corridor along the quebecusa border that also.
The ice storm is getting a little old at this time, 1998 0 0 1,188 views. A huge ice storm in early january 1998 caused severe damage in northern new york and parts of maine and canada. From 4 through 10 january 1998 a severe ice storm impacted northern new york and new england. At least five deaths were blamed on the storm in canada, as well as three in maine and one in new york. A catastrophic ice storm and flood event struck northern new england and northern new york during the first two weeks of january 1998. Ice storm of 1998 in ontario, quebec, and new brunswick. On january 5, 1998, the worst ice storm in united states history was getting underway. It covered the entire area with a heavy coat of thick ice, snapping power poles by the thousands, dropping lines, and killing power everywhere. Vermont, new hampshire, and maine, including parts of the green. Northern new hampshire and vermont, upstate new york, and quebec, the lights started to go out. North american ice storm 1998 january 7th, 1998 youtube. An arctic front was pushing through new york and maine, bringing temperatures well below freezing across a all of northern new york and maine. January 5, 2008 today marks the 10th year anniversary of the 1998 ice storm that devastated parts of northern new england, northern new york and especially southeast canada from january 5th through january 9th, 1998.
The january, 1998 ice storm took people by surprise, an unremarkable weather front that turned lethal when it stalled over the border country of northern new york and southeastern canada, dropping. The north american ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms which combined to strike a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec to nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states, in january 1998. Portions of eastern canada were also impacted, especially quebec. Nevertheless, the damage in the united states paled in contrast to that sustained in canada. Part five of the fivepart series on the ice storm of 1998 0 0 1,118 views. Northern new york battles ice damage the new york times. Ice storm 98 in southcentral canada and northeastern. Tree crowns were partially or totally lost as stems snapped and branches broke with the weight of the deposited ice. The great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms from eastern ontario to southern quebec to nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states. Another ice storm 1998 video, this time from my dads point of view. Amish farms in northern new york state that refused to be connected to the grid were hardly affected at all. This storm is one of the most destructive ice storms in the history of canada and the northeastern united states. Its been 20 years since quebec was battered by the 1998 ice storm that downed hydro lines and left hundreds of.
The first plow comes down boyden road in canton the january, 1998 ice storm took people by surprise, an unremarkable weather front that turned lethal when it stalled over the border country of northern new york and southeastern canada, dropping freezing rain for an unprecedented five days. The north american ice storm of 1998 also known as great ice storm of 1998 was a massive combination of five smaller successive ice storms in january 1998 that struck a relatively narrow swath of land from eastern ontario to southern quebec, new brunswick and nova scotia in canada, and bordering areas from northern new york to central maine in the united states. Dubbed ice storm 98, an extreme weather event characterized by two synoptic systems in succession dropped about 70100 mm in terms of water equivalent of freezing precipitation over southeastern ontario, southwestern quebec and northeastern new york during a 6day period from january 5 to 10 in 1998. It wreaked havoc on this region for 6 days between january 4 and january 10 of 1998. Residents of watertown, ny, who are used to heavy snows and frigid temperatures, are. Tom bowman, jefferson countys director of emergency management, talked to the poststandard the day after. On january 4, 1998, an upper level low system stalled over the great lakes, pumping warm and moist air from the gulf of mexico toward the upper st. Climatic perspective and impacts of the 1998 northern new. Many have called it the worst winter storm northern new york has ever seen. Temperatures dipped into the teens fahrenheit friday night and early saturday in. Northwestern texas ice storm of january 2224, 1940. Tree survival 15 years after the ice storm of january 1998. Many of the lessons learned from the 1998 ice storm were technical in nature.
We here in the north country all have our 1998 ice storm stories. Nefa 1 the ice stormof january 1998 i n january of 1998, a series of ice storms blanketed northern new england and new york with up to three inches of ice. I chose to research the great northeastern ice storm of 1998 because i think the danger of ice storms is often underestimated. The area covered was massive, extending from kitchener, ontario through quebec to new brunswick and nova scotia, and also covering parts of new york and new england. Central park during a snow storm in new york city, u. The state wore a coat of ice as thick as 3 inches, and the disaster killed at least 4 people and cost. Heavy rain associated with a warm moist airmass overspread a shallow but dense layer of cold air producing ice accumulations in excess of three inches. In 1998, an ice storm in northern new york and northern. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the worst natural disasters in canadian history. The ice storm and flood of january 1998 june 1998 u. Ice storms are common on the east coast of the us and canada. Ice storm safety tips the ice storm hitting the tristate area is creating a profound safety concern for pedestrians and drivers alike. I survived the great ice storm of 1998 about facebook. Quebecers still have vivid memories of 1998 ice storm on 20th anniversary.
The ice storm of january 1998 affected 17 million acres of forestland in northern new york, vermont, new hampshire, and maine, including parts of the green mountain national forest and the white mountain national forest. Winter storm linus brought both snow and ice to new york city on groundhog day. Hundreds headed for shelters after an ice storm coated roads, downed tree branches and power lines and left a high of. In the ice storm of 1998, there were more than 80 hours of freezing rain, nearly double the annual average. New york citys fate is closely tied to antarctic ice. N january of 1998, a series of ice storms blanketed northern new england and new york with up to three inches of ice. New york citys ability to withstand hurricanes could hinge on the state of the antarctic ice sheet some 8,000 miles away, according to a study published monday. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york and. Icecovered trees cracked and fell on roads and cars. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york. Its one thing when electrical power is lost during summer months or in southern locations.
It was the most devastating and least ferocious of canadian. January 20 marks the 15th anniversary of the devastating ice storm that struck our region in 1998. We tracked the effect of crown injury on a large sample of. Remembering the 1998 ice storm in upstate new york and montreal. The ice storm of 1998 was one of the largest natural disasters in canadian history. In early january 1998, a series of storms produced large amounts of freezing rain from northern new york. I ce storm 1998 was just the beginning of disasters for the chateauguay valley.
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