A World of Weather: Chapter 12 Introduction

CHAPTER 12

WINTER WEATHER
A snow-covered landscape is one of the most beautiful and tranquil scenes in nature. It is a winter wonderland of which greeting cards and childhood memories are made. Perhaps winter's white coat makes such a lasting impression because it fundamentally changes the appearance of our surroundings. But during winter, the weather outside can also be frightful, with blinding snow, damaging ice, and howling icy winds that can interrupt the rhythms of our daily lives (though skiers keep beseeching "Let it snow, let it snow").

Though astronomical winter arrives in the Northern Hemisphere around December 21, meteorological winter includes the three coldest months of the year þ December, January and February. But sometimes the atmosphere just doesn't recognize the Gregorian calendar, given that incorrigible wintry weather is certainly not confined to these months. Some of the fiercest winter storms on record, such as the Blizzards of 1888 and 1993, occurred in March, technically outside the domain of meteorological winter.

In this chapter, we will examine the origins and impacts of winter weather, from the formation of fledgling snow crystals to the measures taken to combat aircraft icing. We will close the chapter with a look at the infamous Blizzard of March 1993 that disrupted the lives of millions of people in the eastern United States.