5-level ratings scale for snowstorms
New rating of snow storms
The scale ranks snow storms as:
- 1 – Notable
- 2 – Significant
- 3 – Major
- 4 – Crippling
- 5 – Extreme
Instead of the scale being based only on weather factors such as wind or storm surge, it includes the impact on people. Since hurricanes come then pass and is used to warn specific areas of the need for evacuation, the purpose of the snowstorm scale is to assess the impact of the storm right after it occurs. The real danger of snowstorms is the effect after it hits. The storm itself is not dangerous but effect after it dumps 10inches of snow in a short amount of time effects travel, power, etc. Hurricanes storm is more dangerous then the after effect. More study is needed since a large storm in a relatively unpopulated area is lower issue then a medium size storm in a highly dense area. Due to the scale incorporating the impact on people.
Chicago Tribune | New 5-level ratings scale devised for snowstorms