Analysis of frequency of occurrence of weather conditions favouring wet snow adhesion and accretion on overhead power lines in Poland

Extreme weather phenomena having an influence on overhead power transmission lines are important factors causing power transmission grid breakdowns. Wet snow deposition on power transmission lines can cause overloads exceeding mechanical endurance of even new, well-designed lines. Actions undertaken in order to increase power security requires making an analysis on frequency of occurrence of particular weather conditions which can cause vast breakdowns of electrical energy systems. The article contains assumptions and results of an analysis on the frequency of occurrence of weather conditions favouring deposition of wet snow on overhead power lines in Poland. The presented work aims at specifying the probability of failures of a power system occurrence caused by icing.

► Recent power system failures in Poland caused by extreme atmospheric phenomena ► Wet snow adhesion and accretion on power lines ► Weather conditions favouring the phenomenon of wet snow ► Frequency analysis of specific weather conditions in Poland