A severe winter storm hit the western U.S. bringing hazardous travel conditions, dangerously lowering temperatures and threatened crops as far south as California.
Meteorologists say the jet stream has moved significantly further south than normal bringing arctic temperatures into the northwest. AccuWeather reported that temperatures could fall as much as 40 degrees below normal this weekend and a second winter blast could follow in a few days.
Areas of Montana saw temperature forecasts as low as the minus-20s. Officials say that when temperatures reach that low, even a little breeze can cause enough wind chill to be dangerous.
The storm also dumped heavy snow across the northwest part of the country including up to 2 feet in the Rocky Mountains. Ice and snow created dangerous driving conditions and contributed to a four car crash in Montana that killed a 21-year-old woman.
The system is pushing so far south that forecasters say Texans currently experiencing 80 degree days will see lower 40s by Thursday.
Hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens fled the coastlines as authorities issued a red alert due to Typhoon Fitow.
The storm, with maximum sustained winds of 93 m.p.h., made landfall around 1:15 a.m. local time Monday. Forecasters predict as much as 8 inches of rain falling in the early morning hours across three provinces along the southwest coast.
At least two port workers are reported missing in Zhejiang province with many homes already destroyed. Power is reportedly out across hundreds of miles.
Over 750,000 residents of the three provinces were forced to evacuate by Chinese police and military.
Guangdong province, which neighbors the province where the storm’s eye made landfall, had 25 people die when Typhoon Usagi struck just weeks ago.
The National Weather Service is reporting an estimated EF-4 tornado struck the town of Wayne, Nebraska late Saturday afternoon causing significant damage.
Mayor Ken Chamberlain said there were multiple injuries but thankfully no one appears to have been killed by the surprise storm.
The storm reportedly produced multiple tornadoes that struck mainly in the industrial section of the city. Chamberlain told CNN that about a dozen houses were destroyed by the big tornado. Cars were flipped throughout the area and many motorists found themselves trapped but the only major emergency appeared to be a broken gas line.
“Hazmat is on the scene working with the gas leak,” state emergency management spokeswoman Jodie Fawl said.
Providence Medical Center in Wayne said that at least 15 people have been brought in with storm-related injuries.
In Rapid City, South Dakota, a freak winter storm has taken out power to over 30,000 residents. Rapid City police issued a “no travel” advisory for the city. They also said that slush on the roads is “causing vehicles to hydroplane.”
Wyoming Highway Patrol spokesman said a winter storm has shut down almost all of Interstate 25 through the state. A section of Interstate 80 was also closed unless vehicles have chains on the tires.
An unusual event playing out high in the atmosphere above the Arctic Circle is setting the stage for what could be weeks upon weeks of frigid cold across wide swaths of the U.S., having already helped to bring cold and snowy weather to parts of Europe. Continue reading →
The summer of unusually wet weather has created a large impact on British crops that is going to lead to heavy increases in food prices.
The National Farmers Union announced that wheat yields in the country are down almost 15% lower than the country’s five-year average. The British Retail Consortium said that food prices, already high due to the drought in the U.S. and a heatwave in Russia, which lowered corn and wheat production. Continue reading →
Nearly 220 counties in a dozen drought-stricken states were added Wednesday to the U.S. government’s list of natural disaster areas as the nation’s agriculture chief unveiled new help for frustrated, cash-strapped farmers and ranchers grappling with extreme dryness and heat.
Source: Yahoo! News – Half of US counties now considered disaster areas
NASA is reporting the ice sheet that normally covers the nation of Greenland experienced an “unprecedented” melting in a four day span. The area of thawed ice jumped from 40% to 97% from July 8th to July 12th.
The jump is over 40% higher than any previous melting seen by satellites in the last 30 years.
Ice core records shows that the current ice melt at Greenland’s highest point, Summit station, is in line with levels not recorded since 1889. Continue reading →
Extreme weather across the United States has muted many Fourth of July celebrations.
Dozens of cities across the country have scrapped fireworks displays due to the extreme heat wave drying out land and woods.
“The way I look at it,” Dale Seward of the Delphi, Indiana Chamber of Commerce told MSNBC, “I’d rather preside over the chamber that canceled fireworks one year than preside over the chamber that burned the school down.” Continue reading →
The USDA is reporting that Michigan farmers could lose almost 95% some crops because of the unusually warm March weather.
The biggest blow will be to apple growers who will suffer a 90% loss totaling $110 million dollars. Peach growers will face losses of 95% totaling over $14 million. Continue reading →
An unusual April snowstorm covered parts of the northeastern US with as much as 16 inches of snow. Weather forecasters are reporting that the storm could bring record snowfall for many communities.
The snow is described as “heavy and wet” which is causing cities to prepare for power outages and downed tress. A member of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s Public Works department told KDKA-TV that they have a forestry division on standby for tree problems and issues. Continue reading →
