CNN: Snow closes schools in Iowa, cancels Chicago airline flights
Bjorn Viaene
Snow closes schools in Iowa, cancels Chicago airline flights...
Monday after a storm dumped up to 10 inches of snow on parts of the state.
The storm also spread snow Sunday across northern sections of Illinois and
Indiana and parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. Heavy rain caused flooding in
Ohio.
--
Viaene Björn
http://users.telenet.be/weathersite
__________________________________________
yvind Seland
In article <LqvKb.117229$8l7.5...@phobos.telenet-ops.be>, "Bjorn Viaene" <Bjorn....@pandora.be> writes:
> CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/01/05/winter.storm.ap/index.html
> Snow closes schools in Iowa, cancels Chicago airline flights...
> Monday after a storm dumped up to 10 inches of snow on parts of the state.
>
> The storm also spread snow Sunday across northern sections of Illinois and
> Indiana and parts of Wisconsin and Michigan. Heavy rain caused flooding in
> Ohio.
>
>
As seen from Northern Europe, I have always wondered why a few inches
of snow is enough to close down school in northern parts of the US.
I can see the reason why in areas not accustomed to too much snow
like Washington DC, but Iowa?
Is it the wind, gale? the intensity of the snowfall itself? lots of slush
mixed in the snow?
In eastern Norway you would probably need something like 20 inches
in 8 hours before closing the schools. Western Norway
somewhat less and northern Norway the limit would probably be higher,
although the risk of high wind would usually the most important factor
there.
The airport is more sensitive though and 10 inches
within 8 hours at daytime would be enough to cancel a number
of flights, and the rest probably delayed.
Ųyvind Seland
MC
> of snow is enough to close down school in northern parts of the US.
> I can see the reason why in areas not accustomed to too much snow
> like Washington DC, but Iowa?
>
> Is it the wind, gale? the intensity of the snowfall itself? lots of slush
> mixed in the snow?
>
No - it's none of these. Its called PI or Personal Injury. Many Americans
(American lawyers) are just waiting for a mistake to be made - for someone
to turn their ankle or take a fall. Maybe an accident on a school bus. Then
they will sue your ass off.
SCF
>No - it's none of these. Its called PI or Personal Injury. Many Americans
>(American lawyers) are just waiting for a mistake to be made - for someone
>to turn their ankle or take a fall. Maybe an accident on a school bus. Then
>they will sue your ass off.
While this may be true to some extent, many of the schools that close
are rural with bus routes that cover back roads that are more
hazardous than the main roads. They have to weigh the benefits of
keeping the school open against the hazards the students and drivers
(both bus and parents) are exposed to in getting them there.
Knowing this most schools plan on a certain number of "snow days" for
each school year and they can adjust the length of that year based on
whether they use more or less than the number of days allotted.