Ice damage and gap formation are not spatially homogeneous in an area and are largely affected by topographical features and micro climate. A complete understanding of ice storm damage and its role in forest dynamics is of deep interest to foresters, biologists and the general public. This knowledge may result in the development of silvicultural practices which are adopted to frequent ice storm damage. Powerlines Power and communication systems using overhead lines are perhaps hardest hit by ice storms. They can disrupt power lines and power plants, which we depend so much upon.
Ice storms have a notorious reputation for damaging power lines by weighing it down with ice.
Communications and power lines, antennas, and support structures which are exposed to the elements are thus readily damaged by ice accretion. Hanging wire cables collect ice until the cable breaks or the rain stops. Wires can usually support a heavy ice load, but often fail because of the combined effect of ice and wind. The transverse loading on wires may be increased substantially when the wind is blowing at right angles to the lines. Where a surface is exposed at right angles to the wind, the ice accretion rate can exceed the precipitation rate.