A simple model for freezing rain ice loads

There are many models for hindcasting ice loads from meteorological data measured during freezing rain storms. Each model is based on the physics of the ice accretion process and on empirical observations. However, these models predict significantly different ice loads for the same freezing rain storm, making it difficult to use model results to determine design ice loads. In this paper, we describe a simple ice load model that can be used to make conservative back-of-the-envelope calculations of ice loads based on the precipitation rate and wind speed. Using historical weather data from Springfield, IL, we compare the ice loads from this model with those from other models and discuss the reasons for the differences between them. We also compare the modeled and measured ice loads from one well-documented storm that occurred at CRRELʹs freezing rain weather station.