Cold waves

COLD WAVES

A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. A cold wave is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24-hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities. The precise criterion for a cold wave is determined by the rate at which the temperature falls, and the minimum to which it falls.

Cold wave can also be caused by invasion of very cold air over a large area. It is a prolonged period of excessively cold weather that may be accompanied by winds that cause excessive wind chills causing weather to appear colder than it actually is.Cold waves can be preceeded or accompanied by winter weather events like blizzards or ice storms.

Effects of cold waves:

• Sudden cold waves can cause frostbites, hypothermia and other serious medical conditions
• Grazing animals may die of starvation
• Water pipelines may freeze and burst
• Cold waves also invite excess electricity bills due to the energy spent in heating rooms at work or residence

Cold waves cannot be forecasted but can be managed by implementing proper disaster plans