Editing Storm (section)

== Effects on human society ==
{{Redirect|Storm damage|the British television film|Storm Damage}}
{{See also|Acid rain|Effects of tropical cyclones|Hail|Lightning|Snow|Wildfire|Wind|Wind shear}}
[[File:Train stuck in snow.jpg|thumb|A snow blockade in southern Minnesota in 1881]]
[[File:Blitze IMGP6376 wp.jpg|thumb|A return stroke, cloud-to-ground [[lightning]] strike during a [[thunderstorm]].]]
[[File:Flaming Rain at Sunset.jpg|thumb|right|A [[sunshower]] storm in the [[Mojave Desert]] at sunset.]]
[[File:Desert Electric.jpg|thumb|right|A lightning strike during a desert storm at twilight]]
Shipwrecks are common with the passage of strong tropical cyclones.  Such shipwrecks can change the course of history,<ref>Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastdeadly.shtml? The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996.] Retrieved on 1 January 2008.</ref> as well as influence art and literature.  A hurricane led to a victory of the Spanish over the French for control of Fort Caroline, and ultimately the Atlantic coast of North America, in 1565.<ref>Sun-Sentinel. [http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hc-history-1495to1800,0,3354030.htmlstory Hurricane timeline: 1495 to 1800.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814055439/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-hc-history-1495to1800,0,3354030.htmlstory |date=14 August 2014 }} Retrieved on 3 October 2007.</ref>
Strong winds from any storm type can damage or destroy vehicles, buildings, bridges, and other outside objects, turning loose debris into deadly flying projectiles. In the United States, [[tropical cyclone scales|major hurricanes]] comprise just 21% of all landfalling tropical cyclones, but account for 83% of all damage.<ref name="faqd5">{{cite web|author=Chris Landsea|year=1998|title=How does the damage that hurricanes cause increase as a function of wind speed?|publisher=Hurricane Research Division|access-date=2007-02-24|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D5.html}}</ref>  Tropical cyclones often knock out power to tens or hundreds of thousands of people, preventing vital communication and hampering rescue efforts.<ref name="Power failures">{{cite news|author=Staff Writer|date=30 August 2005|title=Hurricane Katrina Situation Report #11|publisher=Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) [[United States Department of Energy]]|access-date=2007-02-24|url=http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/katrina/katrina_083005_1600.pdf}}</ref> Tropical cyclones often destroy key bridges, overpasses, and roads, complicating efforts to transport food, clean water, and medicine to the areas that need it. Furthermore, the damage caused by tropical cyclones to buildings and dwellings can result in economic damage to a region, and to a [[diaspora]] of the population of the region.<ref name="oxfo" />

The [[storm surge]], or the increase in sea level due to the cyclone, is typically the worst effect from landfalling tropical cyclones, historically resulting in 90% of tropical cyclone deaths.<ref name="oxfo">{{cite journal|author=James M. Shultz, Jill Russell and Zelde Espinel|year=2005|title=Epidemiology of Tropical Cyclones: The Dynamics of Disaster, Disease, and Development|journal=Epidemiologic Reviews|volume=27|pages=21–35|publisher=Oxford Journal|doi=10.1093/epirev/mxi011|pmid=15958424|doi-access=free}}</ref>  The relatively quick surge in sea level can move miles/kilometers inland, flooding homes and cutting off escape routes.  The storm surges and winds of hurricanes may be destructive to human-made structures, but they also stir up the waters of coastal estuaries, which are typically important fish breeding locales.

[[Lightning#Cloud to ground (CG)|Cloud-to-ground lightning]] frequently occurs within the phenomena of thunderstorms and have numerous hazards towards landscapes and populations. One of the more significant hazards lightning can pose is the wildfires they are capable of igniting.<ref name='Scott2000'>{{cite journal | doi =10.1016/S0031-0182(00)00192-9 | title =The Pre-Quaternary history of fire | year =2000 | author =Scott, A | journal = 	Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology | volume =164 | issue =1–4 | pages =281–329 | bibcode =2000PPP...164..281S }}</ref> Under a regime of low precipitation (LP) thunderstorms, where little precipitation is present, rainfall cannot prevent fires from starting when vegetation is dry as lightning produces a concentrated amount of extreme heat.<ref name="ufl">{{cite web|url=http://plaza.ufl.edu/rakov/Gas.html|title=Lightning Makes Glass|access-date=7 November 2007|publisher=[[University of Florida]], Gainesville|year=1999|author=Vladimir A. Rakov|archive-date=11 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111165830/http://plaza.ufl.edu/rakov/Gas.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Wildfires can devastate vegetation and the biodiversity of an ecosystem. Wildfires that occur close to urban environments can inflict damages upon infrastructures, buildings, crops, and provide risks to explosions, should the flames be exposed to gas pipes. Direct damage caused by lightning strikes occurs on occasion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_12_3_4.htm|title=Lightning and Its Hazards|author1=Bruce Getz|author2=Kelli Bowermeister|name-list-style=amp|publisher=Hughston Sports Medicine Foundation|date=9 January 2009|access-date=2009-09-09|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124020843/http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_12_3_4.htm|archive-date=2010-01-24}}</ref> In areas with a high frequency for cloud-to-ground lightning, like Florida, lightning causes several fatalities per year, most commonly to people working outside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ams.confex.com/ams/88Annual/techprogram/paper_132808.htm|title=P2.13 Florida lightning deaths and injuries 2004–2007|author=Charles H. Paxton, J. Colson and N. Carlisle|publisher=[[American Meteorological Society]]|year=2008|access-date=2009-09-05}}</ref>

Precipitation with low [[PH|potential of hydrogen levels]] (pH), otherwise known as acid rain, is also a frequent risk produced by lightning.  [[Distilled water]], which contains no [[carbon dioxide]], has a [[Neutral solution|neutral]] [[pH]] of 7. Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a pH greater than 7 are bases.  "Clean" or unpolluted rain has a slightly acidic pH of about 5.2, because carbon dioxide and water in the air react together to form [[carbonic acid]], a weak acid (pH 5.6 in distilled water), but unpolluted rain also contains other chemicals.<ref>{{cite journal|author=G. E. Likens, W. C. Keene, J. M. Miller and J. N. Galloway|year=1987|title=Chemistry of precipitation from a remote, terrestrial site in Australia|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research|volume=92|issue=13|pages=299–314|bibcode = 1987JGR....92..299R |doi = 10.1029/JA092iA01p00299 }}</ref> [[Nitric oxide]] present during thunderstorm phenomena,<ref>{{cite journal|title=Tropospheric sources of NOx: Lightning and biology |author1=Joel S. Levine |author2=Tommy R. Augustsson |author3=Iris C. Andersont |author4=James M. Hoell Jr. |author5=Dana A. Brewer  |name-list-style=amp |doi=10.1016/0004-6981(84)90355-X|journal=Atmospheric Environment|volume=18|issue=9|pages=1797–1804|year=1984|pmid=11540827|bibcode = 1984AtmEn..18.1797L }}</ref> caused by the splitting of nitrogen molecules, can result in the production of acid rain, if nitric oxide forms compounds with the water molecules in precipitation, thus creating acid rain. Acid rain can damage infrastructures containing calcite or other solid chemical compounds containing carbon. In ecosystems, acid rain can dissolve plant tissues of vegetations and increase acidification process in bodies of water and in [[soil]], resulting in deaths of marine and terrestrial organisms.<ref name="EPA">{{cite web|author=Office of Air and Radiation Clean Air Markets Division|url=http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/surface_water.html|title=Effects of Acid Rain&nbsp;– Surface Waters and own Aquatic Animals|access-date=2009-09-05|date=1 December 2008|publisher=[[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]}}</ref>

Hail damage to roofs often goes unnoticed until further structural damage is seen, such as leaks or cracks. It is hardest to recognize hail damage on shingled roofs and flat roofs, but all roofs have their own hail damage detection problems.<ref name="Hail Damage to Roofs from Adjusting Today">{{cite web |url= http://adjustersinternational.com/publications/adjusting-today/multi-family-complexes-insuring-exposures-and-losses/16/ |title= Hail Damage to Roofs |access-date= 11 December 2009 |publisher= Adjusting Today |archive-date= 16 October 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151016183034/http://adjustersinternational.com/publications/adjusting-today/multi-family-complexes-insuring-exposures-and-losses/16/ |url-status= dead }}</ref>  Metal roofs are fairly resistant to hail damage, but may accumulate cosmetic damage in the form of dents and damaged coatings. Hail is also a common nuisance to drivers of automobiles, severely denting the vehicle and cracking or even shattering [[windshields]] and [[Car glass|windows]].  Rarely, massive hailstones have been known to cause [[concussion]]s or fatal head [[physical trauma|trauma]].  Hailstorms have been the cause of costly and deadly events throughout history.  One of the earliest recorded incidents occurred around the 9th century in [[Roopkund]], Uttarakhand, India.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/11/07/wind07.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/11/07/ixworld.html |title=Giant hail killed more than 200 in Himalayas |author=David Orr |date=7 November 2004 |access-date=2009-08-28 |publisher=Telegraph Group Unlimited via the Internet Wayback Machine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051203015218/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F11%2F07%2Fwind07.xml&sSheet=%2Fnews%2F2004%2F11%2F07%2Fixworld.html |archive-date=2005-12-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight ever recorded in the United States fell on 23 July 2010, in [[Vivian, South Dakota]] in the United States; it measured {{convert|8|in|cm}} in diameter and {{convert|18.62|in|cm}} in circumference, weighing in at {{convert|1.93|lbs|kg}}.<ref name="Record">{{cite web|title=Hailstone record press release|date=30 July 2010|publisher=National Weather Service|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/pdf/073010RecordHailVivianSD.pdf}}</ref> This broke the previous record for diameter set by a hailstone {{convert|7|in|cm}} diameter and {{convert|18.75|in|cm}} circumference which fell in [[Aurora, Nebraska]] in the United States on 22 June 2003, as well as the record for weight, set by a hailstone of {{convert|1.67|lbs|kg}} that fell in [[Coffeyville, Kansas]] in 1970.<ref name="Record" />

Various hazards, ranging from hail to lightning can affect outside technology facilities, such as [[Antenna (radio)|antennas]], [[satellite dishes]], and towers. As a result, companies with outside facilities have begun installing such facilities underground, to reduce the risk of damage from storms.<ref>{{cite book|last=Newman|first=Robert C.|title=Computer Security: Protecting Digital Resources|year=2009|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|location=Sudbury, MA|isbn=978-0-7637-5994-0|pages=100|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_R5ndK-i3vkC&pg=PA100}}</ref>

Substantial snowfall can disrupt public infrastructure and services, slowing human activity even in regions that are accustomed to such weather. Air and ground transport may be greatly inhibited or shut down entirely. Populations living in snow-prone areas have developed various ways to travel across the snow, such as [[ski]]s, [[snowshoe]]s, and [[sled]]s pulled by horses, dogs, or other animals and later, [[snowmobile]]s. Basic utilities such as [[electricity distribution|electricity]], [[telephone line]]s, and [[Natural gas#Uses|gas supply]] can also fail. In addition, snow can make roads much harder to travel and vehicles attempting to use them can easily become stuck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nsidc.org/snow/shovel.html |title=Have Snow Shovel, Will Travel |author=Laura Cheshire |year=1997 |access-date=2009-07-08 |publisher=National Snow and Ice Data Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090428171243/http://nsidc.org/snow/shovel.html |archive-date=2009-04-28 }}</ref>

The combined effects can lead to a "[[Weather-related cancellation|snow day]]" on which gatherings such as school, work, or church are officially canceled. In areas that normally have very little or no snow, a snow day may occur when there is only light accumulation or even the threat of snowfall, since those areas are unprepared to handle any amount of snow. In some areas, such as some states in the United States, schools are given a yearly quota of snow days (or "calamity days"). Once the quota is exceeded, the snow days must be made up.<ref name="DDN Larsen">{{cite news|title=School districts are using up calamity days |author=Dave Larsen |work=[[Dayton Daily News]] |location=[[Dayton, Ohio]] |publisher=[[Cox Enterprises]] |date=27 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-05 |url=http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/27/ddn012709calamityweb.html |quote=Ohio school districts can use five calamity days before they must start adding extra days to the school calendar. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131071023/http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/27/ddn012709calamityweb.html |archive-date=31 January 2009 }}</ref><ref name="WCMH Willis">{{cite news|title=Districts Consider Calamity Options |author=Donna Willis |work=[[WCMH-TV]] |location=[[Columbus, Ohio]] |publisher=[[Media General]] |date=30 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-05 |url=http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/education/article/districts_consider_calamity_options/12343/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615071458/http://www.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/education/article/districts_consider_calamity_options/12343/ |archive-date=2011-06-15 }}</ref><ref name="WKTV Ferris">{{cite news|title=Decision for city schools to stay open prompts calls from irate parents |author=Joleen Ferris |work=[[WKTV]] |location=[[Utica, New York]] |publisher=[[Smith Media]] |date=28 January 2009 |access-date=2009-02-05 |url=http://www.wktv.com/news/local/38543532.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130084700/http://www.wktv.com/news/local/38543532.html |archive-date=2009-01-30 }}</ref> In other states, all snow days must be made up.<ref name="Enquirer Wolff">{{cite news|title=Snow may stretch out school year|author1=Christine Wolff|author2=Tanya Albert|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=[[Cincinnati]], Ohio|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]|date=9 March 1999|access-date=2009-02-05|url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/03/10/loc_snow_may_stretch_out.html|archive-date=2 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102135029/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/03/10/loc_snow_may_stretch_out.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> For example, schools may extend the remaining school days later into the afternoon, shorten [[spring break]], or delay the start of [[summer vacation]].

Accumulated snow is [[Snow removal|removed]] to make travel easier and safer, and to decrease the long-term effect of a heavy snowfall. This process uses [[shovel]]s and [[snowplow]]s, and is often assisted by sprinkling salt or other chloride-based chemicals, which reduce the melting temperature of snow.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I3gxuwTE5_MC&pg=PA10|title=Managing roadway snow and ice control operations|author=David A. Kuemmel|page=10|isbn=978-0-309-05666-3|publisher=Transportation Research Board|year=1994}}</ref> In some areas with abundant snowfall, such as [[Yamagata Prefecture]], Japan, people harvest snow and store it surrounded by [[Thermal insulation|insulation]] in ice houses. This allows the snow to be used through the summer for refrigeration and air conditioning, which requires far less electricity than traditional cooling methods.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/Publications/INSIGHT/Win-96/9.asp |title=Using Snow For Cool, Innovative Solutions |journal=Insight |date=Winter 1996 |access-date=2009-07-08 |author=United Nations Environment Programme |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214222059/http://www.unep.or.jp/ietc/Publications/INSIGHT/Win-96/9.asp |archive-date=2009-02-14 }}</ref>

=== Agriculture ===
Hail can cause serious damage, notably to [[automobile]]s, aircraft, skylights, glass-roofed structures, livestock, and most commonly, farmers' [[crops]].<ref name="Nolanhail">{{cite journal|url=http://www.cocorahs.org/media/docs/hail_1994.pdf|title=Hail, Hail, Hail ! The Summertime Hazard of Eastern Colorado|author=Nolan J. Doesken|journal=Colorado Climate|volume=17|issue=7|date=April 1994|access-date=2009-07-18|archive-date=25 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125163951/http://cocorahs.org/media/docs/hail_1994.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>  Wheat, corn, soybeans, and tobacco are the most sensitive crops to hail damage.<ref name="Oliver">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-mwbAsxpRr0C&pg=PA401|title=Encyclopedia of World Climatology|author=John E. Oliver|page=401|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-1-4020-3264-6|year=2005}}</ref>  Hail is one of Canada's most expensive hazards.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s6oxEraqWWwC&q=hail&pg=RA1-PA61|title=Introduction to international disaster management|author=Damon P. Coppola|page=62|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7506-7982-4|publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann}}</ref>  Snowfall can be beneficial to agriculture by serving as a [[thermal insulation|thermal insulator]], conserving the heat of the Earth and protecting [[agriculture|crops]] from subfreezing weather. Some agricultural areas depend on an accumulation of snow during winter that will melt gradually in spring, providing water for crop growth. If it melts into water and refreezes upon sensitive crops, such as oranges, the resulting ice will protect the fruit from exposure to lower temperatures.<ref>{{cite web|author=M. Baldwin|url=http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01243.htm|title=How Cold Can Water Get?|publisher=[[Argonne National Laboratory]] |date=8 September 2002 |access-date=2009-04-16}}</ref>  Although tropical [[cyclone]]s take an enormous toll in lives and personal property, they may be important factors in the [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] regimes of places they affect and bring much-needed precipitation to otherwise dry regions. Hurricanes in the eastern north Pacific often supply moisture to the Southwestern United States and parts of Mexico.<ref name="2005 EPac outlook">[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] [http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Epac_hurr/Epac_hurricane.html 2005 Tropical Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Outlook] accessed 2 May 2006</ref> Japan receives over half of its rainfall from typhoons.<ref name="Whipple 54">{{cite book | author =  Whipple, Addison | year = 1982 | title = Storm | url =  https://archive.org/details/storm00whip | url-access =  registration | pages =  [https://archive.org/details/storm00whip/page/54 54] | location = [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria, VA]] | publisher = [[Time Life]] Books | isbn =  0-8094-4312-0}}</ref> [[Hurricane Camille]] averted drought conditions and ended water deficits along much of its path,<ref name="Christopherson">{{cite book | author = Christopherson, Robert W. | year = 1992 | title =  Geosystems: An Introduction to Physical Geography | pages = 222–224 | publisher = Macmillan Publishing Company | location = New York City | isbn = 0-02-322443-6}}</ref> though it also killed 259&nbsp;people and caused $9.14&nbsp;billion (2005 USD) in damage.

=== Aviation ===
[[File:Windshearaircraftnasa.gif|thumb|Effect of wind shear on aircraft trajectory.  Merely correcting for the initial gust front can have dire consequences.]]

Hail is one of the most significant thunderstorm hazards to aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.easa.europa.eu/safety-and-research/research-projects/docs/large-aeroplanes/EASA.2008_5.pdf |date=November 2010 |title=Hail Threat Standardisation |author1=P.R. Field |author2=W.H. Hand |author3=G. Cappelluti |publisher=European Aviation Safety Agency. RP EASA.2008/5 |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207052634/http://www.easa.europa.eu/safety-and-research/research-projects/docs/large-aeroplanes/EASA.2008_5.pdf |archive-date=2013-12-07 }}</ref> When hail stones exceed {{convert|0.5|in|mm}} in diameter, planes can be seriously damaged within seconds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweather.ws/063_Hazards.php|title=Hazards|author=Federal Aviation Administration|year=2009|access-date=2009-08-29|author-link=Federal Aviation Administration}}</ref> The hailstones accumulating on the ground can also be hazardous to landing aircraft.  Strong wind outflow from thunderstorms causes rapid changes in the three-dimensional wind velocity just above ground level. Initially, this outflow causes a headwind that increases airspeed, which normally causes a pilot to reduce engine power if they are unaware of the wind shear. As the aircraft passes into the region of the downdraft, the localized headwind diminishes, reducing the aircraft's airspeed and increasing its sink rate. Then, when the aircraft passes through the other side of the downdraft, the headwind becomes a tailwind, reducing lift generated by the wings, and leaving the aircraft in a low-power, low-speed descent. This can lead to an accident if the aircraft is too low to effect a recovery before ground contact. As the result of the accidents in the 1970s and 1980s, in 1988 the U.S. [[Federal Aviation Administration]] mandated that all commercial aircraft have [[Airborne wind shear detection and alert system|on-board wind shear detection systems]] by 1993. Between 1964 and 1985, wind shear directly caused or contributed to 26 major civil transport aircraft accidents in the U.S. that led to 620 deaths and 200 injuries. Since 1995, the number of major civil aircraft accidents caused by wind shear has dropped to approximately one every ten years, due to the mandated on-board detection as well as the addition of Doppler [[weather radar]] units on the ground. ([[NEXRAD]])<ref>{{cite web|author=National Aeronautics and Space Administration, [[Langley Air Force Base]] |url=http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Windshear.html |title=Making the Skies Safer From Windshear |date=June 1992 |access-date=2006-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060823125528/http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/PAIS/Windshear.html |archive-date=2006-08-23 }}</ref>

=== Recreation ===
Many [[winter sports]], such as [[skiing]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/01/sports/nagano-98-building-a-better-snowman-through-science.html?pagewanted=1|title=NAGANO '98; Building a Better Snowman Through Science|date=1 February 1998|access-date=2009-07-08|author=Christopher Clarey|work=[[New York Times]]}}</ref> [[snowboarding]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Sam Baldwin|date=January 2006|url=http://www.snowsphere.com/special-features/snowboarding-vs-skiing-the-dying-feud|title=Skiers vs Snowboaders: The Dying Feud|publisher=SnowSphere.com|access-date=2009-07-08}}</ref> [[snowmobiling]],<ref name="ISMA-stat">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.snowmobile.org/facts_snfcts.asp 
 |title=Snowmobiling Facts 
 |publisher=International Snowmobile Manufacturers Associations 
 |access-date=2007-04-23 
 |year=2006 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701002116/http://www.snowmobile.org/facts_snfcts.asp 
 |archive-date=2007-07-01 
}}</ref> and [[snowshoe]]ing depend upon snow. Where snow is scarce but the temperature is low enough, [[snow cannon]]s may be used to produce an adequate amount for such sports.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900EEDA1631F93BA35751C0A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Machines Let Resorts Please Skiers When Nature Won't|work=[[New York Times]]|date=8 February 2001|author=Jeffrey Selingo|access-date=2009-07-08}}</ref> Children and adults can play on a [[sled]] or ride in a [[sleigh]]. Although a person's footsteps remain a visible [[wikt:lifeline|lifeline]] within a snow-covered landscape, snow cover is considered a general danger to hiking since the snow obscures landmarks and makes the landscape itself appear uniform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wta.org/trail-news/news/winter-hiking-and-avalanche-danger |title=Winter Hiking and Avalanche Danger |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=2009-07-10 |author=Washington Trails Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090614063329/http://www.wta.org/trail-news/news/winter-hiking-and-avalanche-danger |archive-date=2009-06-14 }}</ref>