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

Errr, rarely.

But I do remember the freezing rain that brought mainly places to a complete
standstill for a couple of days (30th/31st December 1995).

My car (and everybody elses) was encased in thick ice making it impossible
to get the key in the lock or even open the door. Driving was out of the
question anyway and walking anywhere was lethal. Everything was covered in a
layer of clear, smooth ice.

Smaller branches of trees were brought down (and a few large ones),
telephone wires were stretched under the wait of attached ice, so much so
that some were nearly reaching the ground.

We were supposed to go to a big New Year's Eve party but I think everyone
stayed in that year. Well, we did managed to walk to the local pub (all of
200 yards), but that was dangerous enough.

It must have been because most people were on holiday that nobody I mention
this to ever seems to remember it. Now, if it had happened during a normal
weekday in January then things would be whole different story.
________________
Nick G
Otter Valley, Devon
83 m amsl
http://www.ottervalley.co.uk