"Martin Rowley" wrote in message
...
"Kate Brown" wrote...

Could it happen this side of the pond? I mean, ice storms on that kind
of scale?


It could, and certainly has happened in the past, though probably less
likely to this reported extent here than in the US/Canada. However, there
is one notable example: according to records (though NOT contemporary
reports, due to wartime restrictions), the 'longest-lasting' Rain - Ice
event occurred 27th/28th January to 3rd February 1940. There was severe
dislocation to transport (railways badly affected), with a large area from
north Wales to the south and west Midlands, the southwest of England and
the 'Wessex' areas (i.e. central-southern England). Lamb in 'The English
Climate' has this .... " Extensive thick ice, no traffic, birds had wings
frozen to bodies, and feet to the ground. Branches/telegraph wires
collapsed by great weight of ice. Electricity lines were coated with up to
4" (diameter) of ice."

My dad told me recently about drastic ice accumulations from freezing rain
in March 1969, which subsequently brought down Emley Moor transmitter mast.

He's got some remarkable pictures somewhere.

The problem for us is not so much the *specifics* though: a localised fall
of snow across the A30 a few years back in the Bodmin Moor area caused
much distress - we haven't seen a widespread persistent deep / drifted
snow situation for example across southern Britain for many years.

Martin.