Ice storms

Nature

An ice storm, also known as a glaze event or a silver storm, is a type of winter storm characterized by freezing rain. The U.S. National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0.25-inch (6.4 mm) of ice on exposed surfaces. They are generally not violent storms but instead are commonly perceived as gentle rains occurring at temperatures just below freezing.

Source: Wikipedia

Incidence 
A massive ice storm struck northern New England and southeastern Canada during 7-9 January 1998. This storm was devastating to power and telephone transmission lines and had great impact on vegetation, particularly the deciduous forest at higher elevations (>500 m). The storm has been described as the worst of this type in a century.
Broader 
Type 
(E) Emanations of other problems