#FlashFreeze, snow to shock millions following May-like warmth
As quickly as temperatures surge in the central and eastern #UnitedStates this week, they will crash so fast that snow will accumulate in some areas and wet areas may flash freeze in others.
By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Feb 26, 2024 2:27 PM EST | Updated Feb 26, 2024 2:31 PM EST
"A temperature crash of 20, 40 and even 60 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of hours may not only bring a cold shock to more than 100 million people from the #Midwest to the #Northeast but also a winter whiplash and hazardous flash freeze in some areas spanning Monday to Wednesday night, AccuWeather meteorologists caution.
"Shortly after surging to warmth more typical of May and early June, a blast of frigid air associated with a strong cold front and severe #thunderstorms will slash temperatures by leaps and bounds into midweek. Temperatures will nosedive by 20-40 degrees in cities such as Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York City, Nashville and Atlanta to name a few. However, in some places, such as Kansas City, Missouri, the rapid plunge may reach 60 degrees in less than 24 hours.
"Combining temperature, wind, precipitation and other factors, AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures may plummet 60-80 degrees.
"In #Chicago, following a high temperature of 75 degrees on Tuesday, temperatures may fail to climb back to the freezing mark on Wednesday afternoon following a plunge into the upper 20s Wednesday morning.
"This is about the biggest temperature drop you will ever see for the Mississippi Valley area, AccuWeather Meteorologist and Social Media Producer Jesse Ferrell said. Ferrell also pointed out that hundreds of daily highs and warm night records would be set last week.
"'In St. Louis, after a high in the mid-80s on Tuesday, temperatures will crash to 18 degrees by Wednesday morning, which is a drop of about 66 degrees,' Ferrell stated.
"In many cases, the gusty winds will allow paved surfaces to dry off after severe thunderstorms or downpours move through, but that will not be the case everywhere. There are some zones where a flash freeze may occur which would be a serious hazard for motorists and pedestrians.
"#Snow will be flying and accumulating from potions of the Colorado Rockies into Tuesday to the northern tier of Minnesota and Michigan into Tuesday night.
"In the Central states, several inches of snow will pile up over the Colorado Rockies, with 1-3 inches around Denver. Minneapolis will pick up a quick coating to an inch, but enough snow to shovel and plow will fall on International Falls, Minnesota.
"Farther to the east, in portions of the central and northern Appalachians to northern New England, the snow will be more spotty and generally limited to the higher terrain. However, as temperatures drop, roads may not have a chance to dry off in all areas before freezing air sets in.
"From late Wednesday to Wednesday night, motorists and pedestrians from Kentucky to upstate New York should closely monitor temperatures and be on the lookout for icy patches. Surfaces that appear to be wet may be icy, where the temperature has dropped to near or below the freezing mark.
"Along Interstate 80 in western Pennsylvania, following a high in the 60s on Wednesday morning, temperatures will plummet through the 30s and 20s during the evening with periods of snow and the potential for icy travel.
"Stiff winds and dry air should be enough to prevent widespread icy conditions from developing later Wednesday night along I-95 from #WashingtonDC, to #NewYorkCity and #Boston."
A new UK record high temperature has been set in the Scottish Highlands, according to provisional figures from the Met Office.
28th January 2024, 10:31 EST
"It recorded a peak of 19.6C (67.3F) at #Kinlochewe on Sunday, making it hotter than Rome and the Cote d'Azur.
"If confirmed it would be the highest January temperature in the UK, breaking a record set in 2003 by more than a full degree celsius.
"It would also be the highest winter temperature ever recorded in Scotland
"While enjoying mild temperatures the village was also subject to a yellow wind warn on Sunday, with gusts in excess of 40mph forecast. In the Western Isles a gust of 71mph was recorded."
Sydney, Australia, Nov 26 (EFE).- "Dozens of protesters, including a 97-year-old man, were arrested on Sunday during a #ClimateChange protest off Australia’s east coast that disrupted operations at the country’s biggest coal export port.
"#ClimateActivist group #RisingTide had organized the protest to block the traffic of coal cargo ships in the port of Newcastle since Saturday.
"The group said on its Twitter account that at least 59 people have been arrested so far.
"Since Saturday, groups of 50 to 60 protesters have been taking turns in rostered two-hour shifts getting on canoes and inflatable boats and preventing ships from leaving the port.
"Among the protesters who went out to sea was Alan Stuart, a 97-year-old religious pastor.
"Stuart said he was doing it for his grandchildren and future generations after being pulled out of his boat by the police.
"'I am doing this for my grandchildren and future generations because I don’t want to leave them a world full of increasingly severe and frequent #ClimateDisasters,' he said. 'I am so sorry that they will have to suffer the consequences of our inaction. So, I think it is my duty to do what I can and to stand up for what I know is right.'
"Rising Tide claims that the protest prevented more than half a million tonnes of coal from leaving the Newcastle port by the time the demonstration ended.
"Protesters demand that the Australian government stop all new projects that involve the use of fossil energy and confront the #ClimateCrisis more decisively.
"The climate crisis is one of the big issues of political debate in Australia, a country exposed to the effects of #droughts and #ExtremeTemperatures.
"Australia is the world’s second largest exporter of thermal coal and the largest exporter of cooking coal."
An #Arizona#wildlife center is receiving up to 120 animals a day suffering from the relentless #heat
"The relentless sun -- it hurts"
By Macie Goldfarb
Published Jul 27, 2023 12:32 PM EDT
"Mosby and her team aren’t the only ones working to protect Arizona’s vulnerable wildlife as the unwavering heat continues to torment animals and humans alike.
"To help the state’s animals survive the #ExtremeWeather, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has been bringing water to the wild to help keep animals hydrated.
"The agency deploys water shipments on trucks and helicopters to man-made catchments across Arizona – some capable of holding up to 10,000 gallons of water, according to habitat planning program manager Joseph Currie.
"Currie estimates there are about 3,000 of these man-made watering holes around the state where #deer, #elk, #BighornSheep and other animals now drink and cool themselves off in the extreme heat.
"When Arizona hit 110 degrees 27 days ago, water gauges showed that usage exploded, Currie said.
"The watering holes were originally created for #quail and #doves to increase hunting population numbers, but newer catchments grew in size over the years as the agency found that more animals needed a drink.
"#Droughts and #HeatWaves are occurring more often and becoming more intense across the nation – particularly in the West and Southwest – creating dangerous conditions and affecting water supplies for wildlife, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
"The program is currently funded by a combination of federal funds and fund-raising efforts. But 'if it keeps heating up and keeps drying out, then of course costs are going to increase,' Currie said."
"Climate change is touching every aspect of human life. It may not be responsible for every disaster, but climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense. Turbulence is getting worse. Cities are sinking. Droughts and floods are forcing people to flee their homes. What else? Food, of course.
Although food prices are affected by many factors—economics of the country, supply-chain, inflation, oil prices, wars and conflicts—climate plays a major role in production and it has started to sting. More than 345 million people face severe food insecurity in 2023 and crop failures due to floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events are making things worse.
#Beijing may be facing one of its hottest summers on record
Temperatures soared past 104 degrees F again Thursday, as the Chinese capital grapples with what is shaping up to be one the most severe heat waves on record.
By Nectar Gan, CNN
Published Jul 7, 2023 10:38 AM EDT | Updated Jul 7, 2023 10:38 AM EDT
"Beijing’s temperature soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) again Thursday, as the Chinese capital grapples with what is shaping up to be one the most severe heat waves on record.
"Since 1951, Beijing has seen temperatures rising above 40C (104F) on 11 days – and five of them occurred over the past two weeks.
"The city of 22 million has already seen a new record for its hottest day in June, with a high of 41.1C (106F) registered on June 22.
"China has been gripped by scorching heat waves for weeks, which authorities said had arrived earlier and been more widespread and extreme than in previous years. "
UN warns heat records could be broken as chance of El Niño rises.
“We are expecting in the coming two years to have a serious increase in the global temperatures,” Okia said.