January 2, 2007: Nebraska ice storm

[xoxoxoBruce]

Wiki says...

Prior to the 1998 storm, the last major ice storm to hit Montreal (1986) deposited around 30 to 60 millimetres (1½ to 2¼ inches) of ice. However, the 1998 storm left deposits twice as thick, downing power lines all over the region, damaging most of the trees in Montreal, and leaving streets covered in a thick impassable layer of ice.

That got me wondering about weight on wires.

Rough calculation gives me a 3/8 inch diameter wire in an 1.5 inch diameter sheath of ice would be 0.727 pounds per liner foot, just ice weight.

And a 3/8 inch diameter wire in a 4.5 inch diameter sheath of ice would be 6.255 pounds per linear foot, ice weight.

Add the weight of the wire and figure one to several hundred feet between supports(poles/towers), that's a hell of a strain.
Then, of course, the bigger the sheath of ice, the more resistance to wind force.
Damn, bury those babies.