Glaze Storm Damage to Western New York Forest Communities

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Abstract
During March 3-4, 1991 a glaze storm deposited 2 cm or more of ice on 19,740 km2 of western New York. Six forested communities, a forest edge, and hedgerow communities were investigated to determine the extent of damage to trees. The greatest stem breakage occurred in Sassafras albidum, Salix nigra, Prunus serotina, Quercus velutina, and Q. rubra, which suffered between 30 and 60% crown damage. The least amount of damage to a community dominant was to Fraxinus pennsylvanica (11%). A contributing factor to breakage was the condition of the stems. Quercus alba, Q. rubra, Q. velutina, Sassafras albidum and Fraxinus pennsylvanica had downed stems, 35-60% of which were unsound. The average downed stem diameter of all trees was 6.2 cm with the largest average found in Quercus alba (12 cm), Sassafras albidum (11 cm) and Prunus serotina (10 cm). Forest edges and communities on steep slopes received greater damage, particularly in east- and north-facing situations. Trees in these situations supported asymmetrical ice loads due to their asymmetrical crown structure. This was a contributing factor in the extent of limb breakage as well as the likelihood of tree throws.

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