States of Emergency Declared in Tennessee, Virginia, Australia

Freezing weather causes a major disaster in Tennessee

The impact of freezing  weather has caused a major disaster in Tennessee, according to a Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

Gov. Haslam has therefore elevated the Tennessee State of Emergency into a Level II,  recognizing a major disaster in The Volunteer State.

The Level II – State of Emergency activation is effective as of 3 p.m., CST, on 2/21/15, after being at a Level III – State of Emergency since 9 p.m., CST, on Feb. 16, 2015.

Definition of Level II – State of Emergency
A major disaster as defined by TCA 58-2-101 as an event that will likely exceed local capabilities and require a broad range of state and federal assistance. The TEMP and the SEOC are activated in accordance with TCA 58-2-107(b)(2), and a decision by the Governor or his representative (Director of TEMA) declares a state of emergency. The full staff or most of the staff of the SEOC is activated, typically in a 24-hour continuous operation. This disaster may meet eligibility requirements for a federal disaster declaration under the provisions of the Stafford Act.

Tennessee has 21 confirmed weather-related fatalities since Feb. 16, 2015, said TEMA.

Virgina

• Wise County, Virginia declares local state of emergency due to weather

Wintery weather from Rockies to Northeast this weekend: NWS

Meantime, the National weather Service (NWS) posted the following forecast on its website, as another arctic boundary slid south from northern Canada reinforcing the frigid temperatures for the north central U.S. through at least Tuesday.

A winter storm will continue to bring snow, sleet, rain and freezing rain to parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast through early Sunday morning. Meanwhile, another winter storm will bring heavy snow to the Rockies and Plains through Sunday.
reinforce the frigid temperatures for the n[Valid 12:00UTC Sun Feb 22 2015 – 12:00UTC Tue Feb 24 2015 ]

• Active weather pattern across the southern U.S.
• Cold front brings more frigid temperatures to northern U.S.
• Significant snow expected for the Rocky Mountains

Tropical Cyclone LAM

The Northern Territory government has declared a state of emergency for parts of the region hardest hit by Tropical Cyclone LAM.

Areas under the declaration include Millingimbi, Ramingining, Galiwinku (Elcho Island), Gapuwiyak (Arnhem Land) and Mapuru Outstation.

More than 5,000 residents in the remote region bore the brunt of the category four cyclone as it tore through the Top End on Thursday night and early Friday morning, with winds gusting to 240 km/h and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Cyclone MARCIA

At least 1,500 homes were damaged and most homes and businesses in the northern Queensland towns of Rockhampton and Yeppoon were left without electricity, after Cyclone MARCIA, a maximum category five storm, raked the area, said reports.

“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.

Historic Cold Continues across Eastern U.S.

Dangerously low temperatures affecting much of the eastern U.S.

Historic cold with dangerously low temperatures impacting much of the eastern half of the U.S., with many locations experiencing temperatures as low as 45 degrees below average, and some records threatened, said the National Weather Service (NWS).

A massive surge of arctic air later this week will impact most of the U.S., as another cold front slides south from Canada, said NWS.

“There are indications that this could be some of the coldest weather since the mid-1990s for some parts of the Southeast U.S., Mid-Atlantic, and central Appalachians. An eddy of the polar vortex will add to the potency of the surface cold front, thus creating a deep layer of bitterly cold air. Highs on Thursday and Friday will struggle to get out of the teens for many of these areas, and overnight lows could reach zero degrees or even lower in some places! Wind chill advisories and warnings are currently in effect. The overnight lows on Thursday night will be the coldest in those areas where the wind goes calm, allowing for additional
radiational cooling.”

• Historic cold impacting eastern U.S. through Friday.
• Another storm system developing over the southern U.S.
• Dangerous wind chills are forecast from the northern Plains to the Gulf Coast.
• Temperatures will be as low as 45 degrees below average for much of region.
• Heavy snow is forecast for parts of Northern New England.
• Rain/freezing rain and sleet could affect parts of the Lower/Middle
  Mississippi Valley/Tennessee Valley.

Low temperature ending February 19, 2015 (NWS).

National High and Low Temperature (for the contiguous United States)
Issued 7 am EST Thursday, February 19, 2015

High Temperature for Wednesday, February 18, 2015
29.4ºC (85 degrees F) at Thermal, CA

Low Temperature for Thursday, February 19, 2015
-40.5ºC (-41 degrees F) at Embarrass, MN
NWS Weather Prediction Center, College Park, MD

[Temperature spread: 70ºC (126 degrees F), as calculated by FIRE-EARTH]