Winter Is Here
(Images taken one week apart)
by Ronnie Kayla Neiman
After having a rather hot summer and a very mild Autumn, winter has come to the prairies with a vengeance. Snow covers the ground, roads are still not fully plowed. The snow has created a mix of slush and ice.
It can create some hazardous conditions. being both cold and slippery. Make sure you are wearing warm winter clothes. Also be sure to wear insulated boots, preferably with a good sole grip. It will help prevent slipping.Winter Weather Basics
While the sudden snowfall wasn’t considered to be a bad storm, it did create some issues with travelling and safety.
A winter storm is an event in which the main types of precipitation are snow, sleet or freezing rain.
How can winter storms be dangerous?
Most deaths from winter storms are not directly related to the storm itself.
▪ People die in traffic accidents on icy roads.
▪ People die of heart attacks while shoveling snow.
▪ People die of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold.
Everyone is potentially at risk during winter storms. The actual threat to you depends on your specific situation. Recent observations show that:
▪ Of injuries related to ice and snow:
▪ About 70% occur in automobiles.
▪ About 25% are people caught out in the storm.
▪ Majority are males over 40 years old.
▪ Of injuries related to exposure to cold:
▪ 50% are people over 60 years old.
▪ Over 75% are males.
▪ About 20% occur in the home.
How do winter storms form?
Just like any other storm at other times of the year, the right combination of ingredients is necessary for a winter storm to develop.
Three basic ingredients are necessary to make a winter storm:
▪ Cold air. Below freezing temperatures in the clouds and near the ground are necessary to make snow and/or ice.
▪ Lift. Something to raise the moist air to form the clouds and cause precipitation. An example of lift is warm air colliding with cold air and being forced to rise over the cold dome. The boundary between the warm and cold air masses is called a front. Another example of lift is air flowing up a mountainside.
▪ Moisture. To form clouds and precipitation. Air blowing across a body of water, such as a large lake or the ocean, is an excellent source of moisture.
Many students do have online classes during the pandemic but there are those who do need to attend in-person classes. Just remember, dress warm, travel safely and help others when you can.