MUNCIE, Ind. - A snow or ice storm in the first few weeks of spring commonly causes people to suffer a mild form of depression, says a Ball State University severe weather expert.

"People are not psychologically prepared to drive on ice or dig their cars out in late March," said Robert Schwartz, a geography professor specializing in severe winter weather.

"It takes some people totally by surprise when a late season storm hits because they are mentally ready for spring," he said. "It is even worse when the winter has been extremely mild like this one has."

A final batch of snow associated with a nasty late winter/early spring storm Tuesday moved through Indiana, southern Michigan and northwestern Ohio.
Schwartz said storms late in March or early April are regular occurrences.

In 1993, a superstorm moved up the eastern United States in the middle of March and caused billions of dollars in damage. Florida suffered from high winds, rain and tornadoes while the storm caused blizzard conditions from Georgia to Maine for several days.

"When a storm like this hits Indiana, it is bad but nothing like what happens in the southern states," he said. "An ice storm there often shuts down entire communities for days.

"I was in graduate school at the University of Mississippi when an ice storm hit and it was a disaster. We couldn't go anywhere for nearly a week."

The Midwest isn't out the woods once the current storm passes. A severe ice storm paralyzed the state on April 10, 1995, and heavy snow is possible in extreme northern Indiana as late as mid-May.

"Blizzards occur well into May in the mountainous regions of Colorado, Montana and other western states," Schwartz said. "In the Midwest, we typically have to wait a few more weeks before we can put winter behind us."

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Schwartz at rmschwartz@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1761.)