States of Emergency Declared in SC, NC

North and South Carolina proclaim states of emergency as severe winter storm approaches

Governors in North and South Carolina have declared states of emergency as a severe winter storm approaches.

Gov. Haley proclaimed a State of Emergency for 31 counties in the Upstate, Pee Dee and Midlands of South Carolina.

Gov. McCrory also proclaimed a State Of Emergency for the entire state late Wednesday.
McCrory activated the State Emergency Response Team for the second time in two weeks.
“We are preparing for as much as eight inches of snow across the majority of the state,” he said. “We are anticipating the worst.”

Meantime, the local media reported more than 2,000 crashes on icy roads, throughout the state.

“Between midnight and noon, State Highway Patrol troopers responded to approximately 700 calls for service; of those, 400 were collisions. Yesterday, troopers responded to nearly 3,000 calls for service including 2,300 vehicle crashes. The Highway Patrol typically responds to approximately 1,000 calls in a 24-hour period,” said a report.

States of Emergency Declared in Alabama and Georgia
State of Emergency were proclaimed in Alabama and Georgia as the exceptionally severe weather approached Tuesday.

• Louisiana Declares State of Emergency amid Severe Weather Warning

10th Day of State of Emergency in Tennessee

• States of Emergency Declared in Tennessee and Virginia

Salt Shortage in Ohio

Meantime, Ohio reported major salt shortages in many parts of the Buckeye State.

Record Snow in Boston

Boston has shattered several snowfall records, so far, including snowiest February and snowiest month ever. The total amount of snow measured  at Logan International Airport is now 101.8 inches for the season, said The National Weather Service (NWS), which makes the winter the second snowiest on record, so far, less than 6 inches behind the all-time record of 107.6 inches set  during the 1995-96 winter.
[The city has also smashed the record for most sub-freezing days ever recorded in February.]

Historic Cold Causes at lest 74 Fatalities

At least 74 deaths have been attributed to the historic cold and record snowfalls, which have also caused major travel disruptions, and forced schools, businesses and government offices to close repeatedly across most of the U.S.

Lowest Minimum Temp (Daily Records)

Between 1 and 24 February, at least 1,883 new record low temperatures have been set across the United States, and 314 other records tied, said National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).

NWS has issued the following forecast

… a fresh batch of Arctic air surges through the central U.S

A fresh batch of Arctic air will continue to plunge through the central U.S. as another strong surface high slides down from Canada. A cold front at the leading edge of the frigid airmass will trigger light snow showers while it presses from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the central Appalachians. Flow into the terrain should force some upslope snow along the Rockies…and weak impulses aloft should help enhance amounts over the central to southern Rockies and adjacent High Plains.

“Siberian Express” Plunges Eastern U.S. into a Deep Freeze

Deadly cold returns to eastern half of US

An arctic blast dubbed the “Siberian Express” has plunged the eastern half of the United States, as far south as Florida, into a deep freeze.

Multiple record lows were broken this week, with the Midwest temperatures plunging  to -40ºC (-40ºF), and -45ºC in northern Ontario, Canada

States of emergency declared earlier this week remained in effect across Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, as the deep freeze claimed dozens of lives across the southern and eastern U.S. and Canada, including at least 18 fatalities in Tennessee and six others in Kentucky and North Carolina, according to media reports.

The latest surge of Arctic air could bring some of the coldest weather since the mid-1990s to portions of the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic states, and central Appalachians on Friday, said NWS.

Arctic air entrenched over the eastern half of the Nation will set the stage for a widespread ice and snow event from the Plains into the Northeast this weekend. Moisture return from the Gulf of Mexico will lead to heavy precipitation ahead of a surging warm front. The very cold air already in place will lead to a wide axis of snow, sleet and freezing rain Saturday and Sunday.

U.S. Weather HazMap. Source: NWS

Multiple severe weather Warnings, Advisories, and Watches have been issued for nearly every state.

Snow blankets the Middle East

Meantime, a rare cold front moving across the middle east, left parts of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria covered with up to 20cm (8 inches) of snow.

Arctic Déjà vu: Giga Blasts to Affect 250 Million in 40 States

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
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Potentially deadly Arctic air to affect 250 million in U.S. —FIRE-EARTH

Massive pulses of brutally cold Arctic air are sinking southward from Canada into the central and eastern U.S., affecting the western High Plains to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. for the next few days, said NWS. “Widespread subzero overnight lows are forecast for the Dakotas, Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and interior New England.”

Temperatures will be as much as 30 degrees (F) below average for parts of the Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley…

• Hard Freeze Warnings, Freeze Warnings and multiples of other Weather Hazard Warnings, Watches and Advisories are in effect throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country, extending into the deep South and spanning along almost the entire Gulf Coast.

• Up to 250 million people in 40 states could be affected by the Arctic blasts, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

Giga Arctic Blast Affecting 250 Million in 40 States

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
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Deadly Arctic storm affecting 250 million people in 40 states —FIRE-EARTH

Life-threatening wind chill is plunging temperatures to as low as minus 60 degrees (-51ºC). The coldest temperatures in 20 years are spreading into the northern and central U.S. on Sunday following an arctic cold front.

Combined with gusty winds, these temperatures will result in life-threatening wind chill values as low as 60 degrees below zero. Also, heavy snow will develop from the eastern Plains to the Great Lakes today, with up to a foot of accumulation possible. —NWS

A massive blast of Arctic Air [aka “Polar Vortex”] is expected to set new lowest temperature records from the Northern/ Central High Plains to the Upper Mississippi Valley.

• Hard Freeze Warnings, Freeze Warnings and multiples of other Weather Hazard Warnings, Watches and Advisories are in effect throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country, extending into the deep South and spanning along almost the entire Gulf Coast.

• The giga winter storm has killed at least 2 dozen people so far.
• Up to 250 million people in 40 states are affected by the Arctic blast, according to FIRE-EARTH Models.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Sunday, January 5, 2014. Issued at 14:54UTC. Source: NWS. Map Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. UPDATE

Related Links

• UPDATED: Deadly Cold Plagues U.S. January 5, 2014
• Deadly Cold Plagues U.S. January 5, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, New Jersey January 3, 2014
• Major Winter Storm to Batter Midwest, Northeast January 2, 2014

UPDATED: Deadly Cold Plagues U.S.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
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DEADLY COLD REACHES THE HEARTS AND MINDS OTHER WARNING CALLS FAIL TO REACH – PROBABLY!

UPDATED @ 10:00UTC.

Parts of northeastern U.S. and Canada buried under 60+ cm (2 feet) of snow as deadly wind chill continues to plunge temperatures.

A massive blast of Arctic Air [aka “Polar Vortex”] is expected to plunge temperatures by up to 60 degrees (F) below average from the Northern/ Central High Plains to the Upper Mississippi Valley.

• Hard Freeze Warnings, Freeze Warnings and multiples of other Weather Hazard Warnings, Watches and Advisories are in effect throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country, extending into the deep South and spanning along almost the entire Gulf Coast.

“It may feel as cold as negative 50 to negative 60 on Sunday night over sections of the north-central states,” said a meteorologist  with NWS.

“In those conditions, frost bite sets in on exposed skin within five minutes. A person not properly dressed could die easily in those conditions.”

The mega winter storm is said to be the worst in two decades, caused by a “polar vortex.”

“It’s just a large area of very cold air that comes down, forms over the North Pole or polar regions; [it] usually stays in Canada, but this time it’s going to come all the way into the eastern United States,” said a meteorologist  with NWS.

• Heavy snow has paralyzed large parts of the northeast and Canada, claiming up to two dozen lives, grounding at least 6,000  flights and delaying twice as many since Thursday, and shutting down transport systems.

Schools and government offices have been forced  to close throughout the states of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency on Thursday and have since advised residents to stay at home.

• The mayor of Bridgeport also  declared a state of emergency.
• Boston Declared a Snow Emergency.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Sunday, January 5, 2014. Source: NWS. Map Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. UPDATE

“The last really big Arctic outbreak was 1994,” said a forecaster with NWS. “Outbreaks like this don’t occur every day.”

Record-breaking cold expected over much of Eastern U.S. (NWS)

“The coldest weather in years will be making its presence known from the Upper Mid-West to the Mid-Atlantic region,” said the US National Weather Service (NWS), adding that Ohio, South Dakota and Illinois would be among the worst-hit areas.

Incredibly Cold and Possibly Record Breaking Temperatures, Heavy Snow and Ice Are Expected for the Eastern Two-Thirds of the Country Through Next Week.

Potentially record breaking cold temperatures will continue dropping through the northern-tier states today. As the airmass moves into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, moderate to heavy snow will be possible on Sunday. With cold air already entrenched over much of the eastern U.S., freezing rain is possible from the Deep South, along the Appalachians into New England for the next couple of days.

Wind chill is forecast to plunge the effective temperatures to as low as -51ºC (-60 degrees) in the Midwest.

U.S. Daily Lowest Min Temperature Records set January 1 – 3, 2014

• 65  records Broken, 14  tied
  

On Friday, temperature plunged to -45ºC  (-49.0 degrees) in Van Buren, Maine, breaking a previous record of -35.6ºC ( -32.1 degrees) set in 1999,  said NCDC.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)

High Temperature for Thursday, January 4, 2014

• 76 degrees (24.4ºC) at Miami, FL
• 76 degrees at Kingsville, TX
• 76 degrees at Alice, TX

Low Temperature for Thursday, January 4, 2014

• -36 degrees (-37.8ºC) at Big Black River, ME

Issued 7 pm EST Thursday, January 4, 2014 – NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

Temperature spread:  112 degrees  [The spread remains inconsistent.  Editor]

Related Links

• Deadly Cold Plagues U.S. January 5, 2014
• States of Emergency Declared in New York, New Jersey January 3, 2014
• Major Winter Storm to Batter Midwest, Northeast January 2, 2014

Deadly Cold Plagues U.S.

EXTREME CLIMATIC & WEATHER EVENTS
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DEADLY COLD REACHING PARTS OTHER WARNING CALLS FAIL TO REACH – PROBABLY!

Parts of northeastern U.S. and Canada buried under 60+ cm (2 feet) of snow as deadly wind chill continues to plunge temperatures

Heavy snow has paralyzed large parts of the northeast and Canada, claiming up to two dozen lives, grounding at least 6,000  flights and delaying twice as many since Thursday, and shutting down transport systems.

Schools and government offices have been forced  to close throughout the states of New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The governors of New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency on Thursday and have since advised residents to stay at home.

• The mayor of Bridgeport also  declared a state of emergency.
• Boston Declared a Snow Emergency.

U.S. Weather Hazards Map

U.S. Weather Hazards Map (Hazmap)  for Sunday, January 5, 2014. Source: NWS. Map Enhanced by FIRE-EARTH. UPDATE

“The last really big Arctic outbreak was 1994,” said a forecaster with NWS. “Outbreaks like this don’t occur every day.”

Record-breaking cold expected over much of Eastern U.S. (NWS)

“The coldest weather in years will be making its presence known from the Upper Mid-West to the Mid-Atlantic region,” said the US National Weather Service (NWS), adding that Ohio, South Dakota and Illinois would be among the worst-hit areas.

Incredibly Cold and Possibly Record Breaking Temperatures, Heavy Snow and Ice Are Expected for the Eastern Two-Thirds of the Country Through Next Week.

Potentially record breaking cold temperatures will continue dropping through the northern-tier states today. As the airmass moves into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, moderate to heavy snow will be possible on Sunday. With cold air already entrenched over much of the eastern U.S., freezing rain is possible from the Deep South, along the Appalachians into New England for the next couple of days.

Wind chill is forecast to plunge the effective temperatures to as low as -50ºC (-59 degrees) in the Midwest.

U.S. Daily Lowest Min Temperature Records set January 1 – 3, 2014

• 65  records Broken, 14  tied
  

On Friday, temperature plunged to -45ºC  (-49.0 degrees) in Van Buren, Maine, breaking a previous record of -35.6ºC ( -32.1 degrees) set in 1999,  said NCDC.

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)

High Temperature for Thursday, January 4, 2014

• 76 degrees (24.4ºC) at Miami, FL
• 76 degrees at Kingsville, TX
• 76 degrees at Alice, TX

Low Temperature for Thursday, January 4, 2014

• -36 degrees (-37.8ºC) at Big Black River, ME

Issued 7 pm EST Thursday, January 4, 2014 – NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

Temperature spread:  112 degrees  [The spread remains inconsistent.  Editor]

Related Links

• States of Emergency Declared in New York, New Jersey January 3, 2014
• Major Winter Storm to Batter Midwest, Northeast January 2, 2014

US Temps to Plunge 30 Degrees

EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS

Significant winter storm forecast for the Southern Plains: NWS

High temperatures are forecast to plunge up to 30 degrees below average for this time of year in many areas across Ohio Valley, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic,  as a blast of Arctic air hits the U.S.

UPDATE: At least 6 people have been killed across the country in storm-related incidents, and dozens more injured in traffic accidents in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas, as of 06:00UTC on Sunday.

Blast of Arctic air is forecast to move into the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast as an “anomalous upper level low will slowly track eastward over the next couple of days, from its current position over southern California, to near the Texas panhandle by Monday afternoon. This system will encounter a bitter cold airmass which is currently in place over a good portion of the country, east of the Rockies. Higher elevation heavy snow is expected from the mountains of New Mexico into southern Colorado with light to moderate snowfall for remaining lower elevations,” said the national weather Service (NWS).

U.S. Weather Hazmap for Sunday, November 24, 2013. Source: NWS/CRH. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH Blog.

Sleet and freezing rain is forecast for southwestern Texas, with snow across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles … wintry mixture will spread northeastward through the day on Saturday and Sunday with storm total ice accumulations between 0.25 and 0.5 inches possible for locations in the northern Texas Hill Country. … ice and sleet accumulations should spread into the Dallas/Fort-Worth Metroplex … light snow/sleet across central and western Oklahoma.

More than a foot of snow is expected through they day Sunday in the U.P. of Michigan and six inches or more for northwestern Pennsylvania into western New York as well as localized areas in central New York.

Temperatures will be up to 30 degrees below average for this time of year on Sunday with the exception of Florida and the North Central U.S., said NWS.