Bad ice storm here in '73, a real heavy snowfall (not ice) in '82, and a genuine blizzard in '93. Some small ice storms in between, enough to break some branches and put the power out for a day or so, but nothing spectacular.
It seems like we have had more snow and less ice lately. I remember some very bad ice storms in the late 50s and early 60s, when I was a kid. And you're right, the transformers exploding look like fireworks on the horizon. Also, if you live in a pine grove, the breaking branches sound like heavy machine gun fire.
You’re right about the sound of pine trees in ice storms - they bend over and then they - POP - break.
Here’s hoping we get through this winter without that sound!