U.S. Northeast Entombed in Ice

Deep freeze plagues U.S. northeast

A bitterly cold airmass has invaded the eastern U.S this weekend bringing the coldest temperatures of the season. Gusty winds will combine with these cold temperatures to create dangerous wind chills well below zero in many parts of the Northeast. Meanwhile, a developing storm in the Plains will bring wintry precipitation to the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Sunday. —NWS

“Life-threatening” freeze has gripped the NE U.S., with Wind Chill Warnings, and Wind Chill Advisories issued for more than a dozen states extending from North Carolina to Maine.

Meanwhile, a blizzard contributed to a 50-plus-vehicle pileup on a Pennsylvania highway, causing multiple fatalities.

Deep freeze from the Great Lakes to New England

Forecasters say multiple record low temps could be set this weekend, with the coldest weather of this winter impacting a vast region from the Great Lakes to New England.

Arctic air will be the big story across the northeastern U.S. through Sunday night. An eddy of the polar vortex over southeastern Canada, along with strong cold air advection, is bringing the coldest weather of this winter season from the Great Lakes to New England. Wind chill warnings and advisories are in effect for these areas, along with some record low temperatures. Actual temperatures will be frigid with highs in the single digits and teens, and subzero lows across much of upstate New York and New England. It will also be quite cold from the Ohio Valley to the Mid-Atlantic region.

Significant Earthquakes Strike Oklahoma and Christchurch, NZ

M 5.1 quake rattles Fairview, OK

Centered at 36.490°N, 98.741°W, about 33km (21mi) NW of Fairview, the induced event occurred at a [signature] depth of 7.7 km, USGS/EHP reported.

At least 14 aftershocks/related events have occurred in the region, as of posting.

The quake was third largest recorded shock to strike Oklahoma.

At least 941 earthquakes measuring magnitude 3.0Mw or greater have struck the State of Oklahoma and border area with Kansas over the past 365 days, according to USGS/EHP archive.

EQ location map shows 941 earthquakes measuring magnitude 3.0Mw or greater in the State of Oklahoma and border area with Kansas over the past 365 days:  USGS/EHP archive.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 5.1Mw
Location: 36.490°N, 98.741°W; depth=7.7km
Time: 2016-02-13 17:07:05 UTC
Nearby Cities:

• 33km (21mi) NW of Fairview, Oklahoma
• 58km (36mi) E of Woodward, Oklahoma
• 78km (48mi) W of Enid, Oklahoma
• 107km (66mi) N of Weatherford, Oklahoma
• 158km (98mi) NW of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

M5.8 quake strikes 17km ENE of Christchurch, NZ

The shock was reportedly felt as far north as Wellington, NZ capital, and caused a cliff to collapse in Sumner, a coastal seaside suburb of Christchurch.

Estimated Economic Losses 

Impact: ORANGE PAGER. USGS/EHP model indicates that significant economic losses may have occurred as a result of this earthquake [probability of 36 percent.]

EQ Details [USGS/EHP ]
Magnitude: 5.8Mw
Location: 43.503°S, 172.843°E; depth=8.2 km (5.1 mi)
Time: 2016-02-14 00:13:43 (UTC)
Nearby Cities:

• 17km (11mi) ENE of Christchurch, New Zealand
• 21km (13mi) SE of Kaiapoi, New Zealand
• 162km (101mi) NE of Timaru, New Zealand
• 229km (142mi) NE of Oamaru, New Zealand
• 293km (182mi) SSW of Wellington, New Zealand

EQ Details according to local monitors

Public ID: 2016p118944
Intensity: severe
Universal Time: February 14 2016, 0:13:43
NZ Daylight Time: Sun, Feb 14 2016, 1:13:43 pm
Depth: 15km
Magnitude: 5.7
Location: 15km east of Christchurch
Latitude, Longitude -43.50, 172.83