U.S. Freezes!

DISASTERS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
PARALYZING WINTER STORM
STATE OF EMERGENCY
SCENARIOS  887, 785, 666, 560, [500,] 444, 187, 177, 157, 111, 078, 063, 027, 023, 02
.

NY Declares State of Emergency Amid Deadly Snowstorm

All 50 U.S. states experience freezing temperatures or colder weather as a polar vortex pushes arctic air across the country.

Every U.S. state, including Hawaii, saw temperatures plunge to freezing point or lower on Tuesday, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

State of Emergency Declared in New York

The arctic blast also prompted NY governor to declare a state of emergency in western and central New York due to heavy snow.

The counties included in the executive order are Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Franklin, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, Wyoming, and contiguous counties.

“This storm may persist until Friday morning with the potential for another two feet of snow,” said Cuomo, dispatching the National Guard. “New Yorkers in these areas should exercise extreme caution, and stay off the roads until conditions are clearer and safer.”

Up to 1.2 meters of snow is forecast for large swathes of western New York, while several areas could receive as much as 1.8 meters, said NWS.

Deadly Snowstorm

“Four people have died as a result of the snowstorm. Three of them succumbed, apparently from heart problems, two of them while shoveling the deep snow. Another was killed while attempting to push a car out of a drift,” said a report.

Surreal Storm

A New York highway superintendent called the snowstorm “surreal.”

“I’ve been here 33 years and this is one of the top ones,” he told The Buffalo News. “It’s surreal … this is one of the worst I’ve seen.”

Historic Event
“This will be a historic event. Absolutely. It is a historic event,” said a forecaster with NWS.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD
Issued 7 pm EST Tuesday, November 18, 2014

High Temperature for Tuesday, November 18, 2014

• 28°C (83 degrees F) at Homestead AFB, FL

Low Temperature for Tuesday, November 18, 2014

• -30°C (-22 degrees F) at Lamar Ranger Station, WY

Related Links

• First Paralyzing Winter Storm Arrives November 15, 2014
• 40 Degrees Below Average November 11, 2014
• Polar Vortex to Scythe through the U.S.  Nov. 10, 2014

First Paralyzing Winter Storm Arrives

DISASTERS CAUSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS
PARALYZING WINTER STORM
SCENARIOS  887, 785, 666, 560, [500,] 444, 187, 177, 157, 111, 078, 063, 027, 023, 02
.

Arctic blast continues across much of the US: NWS

First major winter storm of the 2014/15 hitting the Rockies

A January-like weather pattern is forecast to continue across most of the US, with
another arctic surface high moving south from Canada, said NWS forecasters, reinforcing the freezing air mass already in place . . . “unseasonably cold temperatures will fall even further this weekend, and the cold temperatures will persist for most of the central and eastern U.S.”

The first significant winter storm for the central Rockies and intermountain West is underway and bringing heavy snow to the higher elevations and a wintry mix to the valley locations. Parts of Oregon and Idaho have already seen significant snow and ice accumulations from this event, and winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories are in effect from Oregon to the Colorado Rockies. [NWS]

The cold weather is forecast to affect the Deep South, with sub-freezing overnight lows from eastern Texas to the southeast coast, said the forecasters.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD – Issued 7 pm EST Friday, November 14, 2014

High Temperature for Friday, November 14, 2014

• 29°C (84 degrees F) at Pembroke Pines, FL

Low Temperature for Friday, November 14, 2014

• -31°C (-24 degrees F) at Jordan, MT
• -31°C (-24 degrees F) at 12 miles north of Hingham, MT

Related Links

40 Degrees Below Average

Images of the Day:

Temps as much as 40 degrees below average from the Rockies to the Plains

Unseasonably cold temperatures brought by a polar vortex [arctic airmass] will continue to surge southward through the central U.S. Temperatures are forecast to drop by ass much as 40 degrees below climate average for areas east of the Rockies into the Great Plains: NWS/NOAA

Great Falls, Montana – Great Falls International Airport (KGTF)

Temperature: -20°C [-4°F]
Humidity: 86%
Wind Speed: SW 7 MPH
Barometer: 1044.0 mb [30.53 in]
Dewpoint: -22°C [-7°F]
Wind Chill: -18°F (-28°C)
Tuesday Night Forecast Low: -26°C [-15 °F]

• Wind chill values:  as low as -35°C [-31 °F]

Last Update by NWS on 11 Nov 7:53 am MST

 Related Links

• Polar Vortex to Scythe through the U.S.  November 10, 2014

⊆⊗⊇

June 27th Lava Flow Ignites First Home in Pahoa, Hawaii

Active lava has moved to within about 20 meters (22 yards) of the transfer station fence and also continued to expand through private property across the street from the station. At 11:55 AM, HST, an unoccupied home on that lot was set on fire by advancing lava. Source: HVO

Helicopter view looking west across the lower part of the June 27th lava flow. Smoke plumes show areas of active lava breakouts. The transfer station is in the middle of the image (white roofed structures). At upper left, smoke rises from the margin of a new, northeastward directed finger of lava. Source: HVO

 Related Links

• Kilauea Lava Flow Could Affect Thousands on Hawaiʻi Island  September 5, 2014
• Lava Flow from Kilauea Advancing AGAIN on Big Island Communities October 7, 2014
• Kīlauea Lava Flow Consuming Everything Along Its Paths October 27, 2014
• Lava Flow Nearing Residences in Pāhoa, Hawaii October 28, 2014
• Lava Enters Two Residences in Pāhoa October 29, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declared due to Hawaii Eruption, Lava Flow November 4, 2014
• ‘Misunderestimated’ November 9, 2014

Polar Vortex to Scythe through the U.S.

The Big Freeze could affect up to 220 million people across 44 states in the U.S.

Wind chill values of up to -35°F forecast this week

US Temperatures are forecast to plunge by as much as 30 degrees below average over parts of the Northern Plains.

The coldest weather of the season is expected to arrive in the next couple of days for the northern Rockies and northern Plains as a cold airmass moves out of Canada. Significant snowfall is likely for parts of the northern Rockies, northern Plains and Great Lakes region as the cold front moves southward. Winter Storm Watches, Warnings and Advisories are in place highlighting the associated risks.

A winter storm will bring heavy snow and gusty winds to portions of Northland today and tonight. The bulk of the snow, and best chance for totals in excess of 8 inches, will be along and south of a line from generally Duluth, MN to Brainerd, MN and across all of northern Wisconsin.

Additional snow will persist across the snow-belt region of northern Wisconsin through at least Wednesday, due to the cool north winds over Lake Superior. [NWS]

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD
Issued 7 am EST Monday, November 10, 2014 (Last Update on 10 Nov 5:53 am MST)

Low Temperature for Monday, November 10, 2014
1ºF at Great Falls, MT

Humidity: 91%
Wind Speed: SW 6 MPH
Barometer: 30.09 in (1027.0 mb)
Dewpoint: -1°F (-18°C)
Visibility: 9.00 mi
Wind Chill: -11°F (-24°C)

High Temperature for Sunday, November 9, 2014
91ºF  at Yuma, AZ
91ºF  at Elsinore, CA

Arctic Blast from the Past

Typical polar vortex configuration in November 14-16, 2013. NOAA

Wavy polar vortex configuration on January 5, 2014. NOAA

Dangerous wind chills are expected beginning late Monday night through at least Wednesday! Wind chill values are expected to drop to -10°F to -20°F in many areas, and prolonged exposure to these conditions could lead to frostbite or hypothermia. The coldest wind chill values are expected Tuesday night through Wednesday morning and valleys near the Continental Divide could see wind chill values locally up to -35°F. 

Areas along the snowbelt region of northern Wisconsin can expect snowfall totals on the 20 inches or more by Thursday.  [NWS]

US: Drought Disaster, Landslide Emergency, Deadly Freeze

DISASTER CALENDAR SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,143 Days Left 

[January 24, 2013] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,143 Days Left to the most Fateful Day in Human History
• Symbolic countdown to the ‘worst day’ in human history began on May 15, 2011 …

.

Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Drought disaster grows, deadly freeze grips Midwest and Northeast, NC declares state of emergency after landslide

At least 62 additional counties across 6 states—Georgia, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas—have been declared drought disaster areas by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) due to damages and losses caused by the recent drought. The latest designations cover both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

• As of January 23, 2013 some 917 counties (650 primary and 267 contiguous) across 2 dozen states have been designated as drought disaster areas, USDA reported.

Drought Map for Contiguous U.S. as of January 22, 2013, released by US Drought Monitor on January 24.

The states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma remain in severe drought or worse, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported.

The worst levels of drought continued to grow in Kansas which produces about a fifth of the total U.S. wheat.

• The extreme drought in Kansas grew to 79.53 percent, up from 79.34 percent, and exceptional drought spread to 36.14 percent of the state from 34.87 percent.

A Partial Map of the 2013 U.S. Drought Disaster Areas. Source: USDA

Northern United States

Meantime, a deadly Arctic blast that gripped the U.S. Midwest and Northeast on Tuesday brought “life-threatening temperatures in Minnesota and northern Wisconsin.”

• Icy winds made some areas feel as cold as minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-46ºC).

• Up to 50cm of snow fell in NE Ohio, NW Pennsylvania and upstate New York, media reported.

• Hypothermia and icy conditions have claimed at least half dozen lives in Ohio, Minnesota and Illinois.

• The deep freeze is expected to last for several days.

NC declares a state of emergency after landslide

North Carolina Gov. McCrory has declared a state of emergency for mountain counties affected by a major landslide triggered by extreme rain events earlier this month.

• A major landslide destroyed a 70-meter section of US 441 on January 15.

• The emergency declaration covers Graham, Jackson and Swain counties and areas within the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, media reported.

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

Europe Freezing to Death!

As the North Atlantic Current of the Gulf Stream Slows Down, the Big Freeze Could  Become ‘Permanent’

Third Wave of Arctic Blast Continues to Bring Snow and Cold to Much of Europe

London’s Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest hub for air passengers, has canceled all arrivals, with only a handful of departures, as temperatures plunged to -5.2C overnight. This winter could turn out to be the coldest on record (since 1910).

Fresh snow has brought much of Britain to a standstill. Traffic queues in the snow on the A3 near Guildford, in southern England December 18, 2010.  Reuters/Luke MacGregor. Image may be subject to copyright.

The Temp lows in Britain:

Loch Glascarnoch (Scotland) : -17.2C
Norwich (England) : -14.4C
Tredegar (Wales) : -10.2C

“For the first 15 days of this month, the average has been -0.7C. So far this month there have been five nights in Edinburgh when the mercury dropped below -10C, once hitting -16C. On December 7, the maximum temperature reached in the daytime there was -8C,” a report said.

“In Manchester and London, 11 out of 16 nights were below freezing, the coldest in Manchester -12C and in London -5C.”

Rest of Europe

In Paris, Charles de Gaulle’s air traffic was cut by about 50 percent as heavy snow blanketed the French capital. At Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport there were many cancellations and long delays.

At Frankfurt airport, Germany’s busiest, nearly half of the planned total of 1,350 flights, departures and arrivals, were canceled Sunday.

Heavy snowfall covered much of Scandinavia, where temperatures dipped to -22ºC (-8ºF).

Heavy snow and ice storms affected as far south as Italy. Tuscany was blanketed in several inches of snow, forcing the closure of Florence’s airport on Sunday.

Heating Oil Shortage

Up to 3 million homes, schools and hospitals face fuel rationing this winter, as the UK  government warns of ‘very serious’ shortage of heating oil during the cold snaps.

The price of heating oil in the UK has skyrocketed by 63% since June, to  71 pence [USD1.10] per liter today.

The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt

The Thermohaline Circulation (THC)

The great ocean conveyor belt delivers warm water into the north Atlantic, making Europe warmer than it would otherwise be. The slowing down or stopping of these currents could result in catastrophic changes in the world’s climate.

FIRE-EARTH believes that the North Atlantic current of the Gulf Stream is slowing down and could stop entirely in the very near future.

Related Links:

• Arctic Blast Hits Britain Again
• Transitory Impact of AO is the ‘Good News’
• United Kingdom of Ice

• Europe Freezes Over 3 Weeks Early
• When Disasters Strike
• 100MPH Winds Batter Britain

• NEW Snowstorm to Hit Upper Midwest
• Michigan: A 2010 Disaster Area
• Wisconsin Wind Chill Temps to Drop to -33ºC
• Your World Under Siege
• Megadisasters Loom

• Winter Officially Starts Today!

• 2010 Disasters
• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Index of Human Impact on Nature (HIoN) March 2008
• 2010: The Year of Disasters
• Earth’s Human Induced Antiphase Nears Completion

• FEWW DISASTER FORECAST 2011
• Earth: Wounded and Feverish
• 2011 SIX TIMES MORE DISASTROUS THAN 2010