w i n t e r   t r i v i a

Winter has surprised us...    

Snow has covered us... 

School closings overwhelmed us!

Here are some fun facts 
 

and trivia to enjoy... 

Which of the following is not effected by wind chill?  a. person  b. dog  c. car radiator  d. bird

Answer: c. Wind chill is the combination of wind and temperature and is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin such as that of a person or animal. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving the body temperature down. Wind chill has no effect on cars or other objects.

What is the difference between sleet, hail, and freezing rain?

Answer: Hail is a chunk or stone of ice dropped from a thunderstorm. Sleet is frozen rain. Freezing rain is liquid rain that freezes to a surface such as the road or a tree.

True or False. It must be 32°F or colder for it to snow.

Answer: False. It has been known to snow with temperatures in the mid 40's. Temperatures are below 32°F up in the clouds where the snow is forming.

On the average, one inch of rain is equivalent to how many inches of snow?

        a. 10 inches         b. 1 inch         c. 5 inches         d. a foot

Answer: a. 10 inches of snow melts down to about an inch of liquid rain.

Which of the following impacts can you expect from a "Great Nor'easter"?

    a. Heavy snow         b. High winds             c. Coastal Flooding

    d.  Blizzard              e. All of the above      f. None of the above

Answer: e. Nor'easters cause high winds and flooding along the coast and heavy snow and sometimes blizzard conditions inland over the Greater Metropolitan Washington area. Nor'easters are responsible for the areas's most hazardous winter weather.

Can it snow from clear skies?

Answer: Yes. Ice crystals can fall from clear skies when temperatures are in the single digits or colder.

What is more hazardous to trees and power lines?

        a. One inch of wet snow         b. One inch of ice

Answer: b. An inch of ice is heavier than wet snow and is hazardous enough to cause power lines and trees to come down.

Winter Facts

Fact: El Nino refers to a warming of the Pacific Equatorial waters and a slackening of the Trade Winds over those waters. But where does the name come from? It originates from Peru. Two big industries in Peru were fishing and fertilizer. Fishermen noticed that once every several years, the waters would warm; the upwelling of cold water that brought nutrients to the fish would stop; the fish that fed on the nutrients would leave; and the birds that fed on the fish would leave. The bird guano was a major source of fertilizer. It had a great impact on the local economy. They named it "El Nino" after the child, Jesus Christ, giving it a religious connotation because it seemed to occur around Christmas time.

Fact: La Nina refers to a cooling of the Pacific Equatorial waters and an increase in the Trade Winds over those waters. It is not uncommon for La Nina to follow a strong El Nino, although this does not always happen... this winter is an example!

Fact: About 70 percent of winter storm related deaths occur in automobiles.

The rest are primarily due to heart attacks from over exertions such as shoveling heavy snow or from hypothermia caused by over exposure to the cold. When winter storms strike, stay indoors and keep warm and dry. Avoid over-exertion. Your heart is already working hard in the cold to keep your body warm.

Fact: The Winter of 1779-1780 was so cold that ice was piled 20 feet high along the Delmarva Coast and stayed there until spring.

The upper portion of the Chesapeake Bay and the entire Potomac River was frozen solid. People were able to walk from Annapolis to Kent Island and from Alexandria into DC.