Featured Articles
Facts About Blizzards
A snowstorm occurs when snow falls as precipitation. The most severe kind of snowstorm is a blizzard, where low temperature, heavy blowing snow, and strong winds combine to create huge piles of snow (snowdrifts) and to create a zero visibility condition that can potentially harm people. What is a blizzard?According to the US National Weather Service, a blizzard is a turbulent, freezing snowstorm w... [Read More]
Fun Snow Facts
The greatest misconception about snow is the fact that no two snowflakes are alike. With several billions that fall each year, there is a high possibility that one can see two identical snowflakes, though the probability of getting two identical snowflakes remains low. Snowflakes are formed through ice crystals. These ice crystals are as small as dust particles. When these crystals join up, they f... [Read More]
How Avalanches Work
We have seen lots of videos of skiers desperately trying to survive the dreadful mass of snow falling down a mountainside. Some are lucky to escape, while some are buried alive under tons of snow. This rapid and abrupt flow of snow poses one of the biggest threats in the mountains for property and life. This natural hazard is known as avalanche.What is an avalanche?The term "avalanche" c... [Read More]
Effects of Ice Storm
When people talk about storms, they oftentimes associate it with torrential rain in the tropics or in areas that are near the coast. However, in the farthest reaches of the globe, there is also a different type of storm-one that involves freezing rain and temperatures below zero degrees. In this article we look into ice storms and exactly how devastating and fatal they can be. There are all forms ... [Read More]
The Worst Avalanches in History
An avalanche is an uncontrollable flow or cascade of large masses of snow, ice, rock, mud and other debris down a mountain. There are many reasons why avalanches occur, such as when a constantly accumulating mass of debris can no longer be contained by a mountain slope, or when an earthquake ruptures a mountain or cliffside, or when a slab of ice and snow is released by strong weather.Throughout r... [Read More]