Extreme Value Analysis and Modelling of Wet Snow Accretion on Overhead Lines in Hungary

Abstract

Wet snow events in Hungary can occasionally cause damage to overhead power lines and serious power supply failures. Return period calculation of such high snow mass events was determined upon a 50-year long data series available at 12 meteorological stations. Wet snow masses were estimated with a model of cylindrical accretion around wire of 3.1 cm diameter. Trends in the return periods and ice classes (according to the ISO 12494 standard) were assessed from division of the dataset into two periods (1965–1990 and 1991–2016). Ice classes in the range of R2 to R5 (mass of 0.7–6.1 kg m−1) were identified. The wet snow risk decreased in southern or central Hungary, while an increase was found in the western part of Hungary. Ice classes R6–R8 (up to 40 kg m−1) could occur in mountain areas of Hungary as indicated by numerical simulations in case studies. However, their return period is unknown due to the lack of long observation series.