Finding Hidden Ice and Snow With Forensic Meteorology
9.25.2026
Forensic meteorology can show the invisible ice on the ground that makes a person slip and fall – even if the weather forecast says conditions were clear.
The New York State Bar Association held a seminar on how forensic meteorology, which is the the in-depth analysis of weather records, can aid attorneys in weather-related litigation.
The speakers were:
Howard Altschule, CEO and certified consulting meteorologist at Forensic Weather Consultants.
Matthew J. Kelly, partner at Roemer Wallens Gold & Mineaux.
Altschule said that even a trace amount of snow or rain can cause adverse conditions for an accident or a fall. He also said that it was important to know how snow and ice can melt and refreeze in sunshine and cold weather. What looks like a wet patch on an asphalt parking lot may actually be clear ice, otherwise known as black ice.
“Was the old snow and ice on the grounds there when the accident occurred?” Altschule said. “With regard to melting and refreezing processes, how long had ice been present on the ground, or was it brand new ice? Was it in the process of forming? A lot of people don’t realize that you can get melting when temperatures are as low as 23 degrees in the presence of direct sunshine.”
Altschule said that he and his team use a lot of recorded weather data to extrapolate conditions in relevant locations, like figuring out when freezing rain started at the site of an accident, or how fresh snow covered up a pre-existing layer of ice.
“We have so much weather data that most people don’t even know exists, and that helps us piece together the puzzle about what the weather conditions were,” Altschule said. “We don’t just rely on the closest airport observation because it’s not usually close enough.”
However, there are caveats to weather records and data. For example, observations may be taken at 7 a.m. for the previous 24-hour period, so the freezing rain from a winter storm may be recorded on Tuesday, but actually fell on Monday night.
“It’s important to what do I have to do to prove my case in this situation,” said Kelly. “Having this collection of records that Howard puts together with his colleagues is the vehicle by which you’re going to be able to prove your case as a defendant that this claim doesn’t have any merit.”
The webinar was sponsored by the New York State Bar Association’s Trial Lawyers Section and the Torts, Insurance, & Compensation Law Section.