Extreme Temperatures
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Attention

Environmental disasters across globe in February 2021

earth
At least 51 people killed when glacier breaks in northern India, Europe's tallest active volcano Mt. Etna erupts

February saw a host of environmental disasters, including floods in Turkey and Japan, a powerful volcanic eruption in Italy's Mt. Etna, and heavy monsoon rains in Indonesia.

Here is a timeline compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Feb. 1:

- The US northeast is in the midst of a massive snow storm with some areas expected to receive up to 2 feet of snow.

Feb. 2:

- Heavy rainfall in western Turkey floods some parts of Izmir province, leaving two dead.

Snowflake

Snow piles up as winter storm impacts Maine - 28 inches recorded - thousands of power outages reported

Gusty winds on Tuesday blow across Turner Street in Presque Isle.
© Paula Brewer / The Star-HeraldGusty winds on Tuesday blow across Turner Street in Presque Isle. The extreme windy conditions caused several crashes throughout the region.
Thousands of power outages were reported in northern and eastern Maine as blowing winds and whiteouts impacted the area on March 2, the National Weather Service said.

Local officials called on residents of the area to stay at home. The Caribou Police Department warned, "Road conditions are very bad with the wind, whiteout conditions and low temperatures."

A local meteorologist measured 28 inches of snow accumulation on Tuesday morning, he said on Twitter.


Snowflake Cold

Winter's almost over, yet Atlantic Canada is blasted with 50 cm of snow

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The beginning of March brought some harsh winter conditions to Atlantic Canada, particularly in Newfoundland, which was hit hard Tuesday.

The intense winter storm that powered through the Maritimes Monday -- the first day of meteorological spring -- also delivered a swift dose of heavy snow, howling winds and blizzard conditions to Newfoundland Tuesday.

Because of the storm, most government offices and municipal services were either delayed with opening or closed for the day early Tuesday. Conditions quickly began to deteriorate Monday overnight and into the pre-dawn hours Tuesday morning.


Arrow Down

Closures along South Klondike Highway due to avalanches after 'way, way above average' snowfall

A snowplow clears a path on the South Klondike Highway. On Tuesday, the highway was shut down.
© Colin MacKenzieA snowplow clears a path on the South Klondike Highway. On Tuesday, the highway was shut down.
The large snowfall in southern Yukon has caused lots of problems for highway staff, and contractors tasked to deal with avalanches. This weekend, avalanche activity was reported along the South Klondike Highway, and it seems that highway staff had their hands full.

Colin MacKenzie, an avalanche contractor for Yukon's Department of Highways and Public Works, explained that these avalanches are caused by storms coming off the Pacific Ocean. These storms are bringing winds, snow, and warmer temperatures with them.

Snowflake Cold

Taiwan's Yushan sees first snow of 2021

snow
© CWB
Taiwan's tallest peak, Yushan, this morning (Tuesday, March 3) saw 3 cm of snow, its first of the year, as seasonal northeasterly winds brought cold, wet weather to the country.

Seasonal northeasterly winds brought increased moisture and lower temperatures to northern and eastern Taiwan overnight. This morning, the mercury at the Yushan Weather Station dipped down to minus 0.8 degrees Celsius by 1 a.m. and minus 1.5 degrees by 2 a.m., according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).


Snowflake

One killed, dozens injured in traffic accidents amid heavy snowfall in South Korea - nearly 3 feet of March snow

Cars are trapped on Donghae Expressway in the east coast on March 1, 2021,
© YonhapCars are trapped on Donghae Expressway in the east coast on March 1, 2021, due to heavy snow in Gangwon Province.
One person was killed and dozens were injured in traffic accidents caused by heavy snowfall in the country's northeast, officials said Tuesday.

Gangwon Province received up to 90 centimeters of snow in the mountains and 5-20 cm inland between Monday and Tuesday afternoon, according to local weather authorities.

The snow caused severe traffic congestion and road closures across the province, leading to 79 traffic accidents and multiple casualties, according to firefighting officials.

A man in his 50s was killed after he was hit by a car near a tunnel on a highway linking Seoul to Yangyang, 215 kilometers east of the capital.


Snowflake

Fresh snow in March on Mauna Kea, Hawaii - Winter weather advisory continues

snow
© UKIRT
As of Monday morning, the road to the summit of Maunakea was closed to the public above the Visitor Information Station due to snow and icy road conditions.

Webcams show a fresh coating of snow and ice on the summit of Maunakea on Monday morning, where a Winter Weather Advisory is still in effect but should expire soon.

The National Weather Service in Honolulu reported this morning that "overnight snow and icy conditions are currently present over the Big Island Summits. Conditions are expected to improve later this morning."

Snowflake Cold

New South Wales, Australia just suffered its coldest summer in a decade

Oz temps

It wasn't just Facebook giving Australia the cold shoulder this southern hemisphere summer โ€” according to data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the eastern Aussie state of New South Wales (NWS) has just suffered its coldest summer season since 2011.


March 1 is the start of autumn down under. December 1 to February 28 is summer, and those 3-months delivered lower than average temperatures across the majority of Australia โ€” NOAA reveals that 823 new low temperature records were set during that time-period in Australia, while the latest data from the BoM (released today, March 1) shows us that the southeastern Aussie state of NSW, distinguished by its coastal cities, national parks, and capital city Sydney, just endured its coldest summer since the end of the previous solar minimum (late 2010/early 2011).

As reported by the dailytelegraph.com.au, the average NSW temperature for the summer of 2020-21 was the coldest on record since 2011 when the average temperature reached a relatively cool 23.2C (73.8F).

According to the BoM -even with their UHI-ignoring bias- "mean maximum temperatures were cooler than average for much of the Aussie mainland," with mean minimum temperatures "below average for the northern interior of Western Australia and adjacent Northern Territory, areas of southern inland New South Wales, north-west Victoria, and south-east and northern South Australia."

Snowflake

Over 39,000 households affected by record snowfall in Iwamizawa, Japan

snow japan
Heavy snow has been falling intermittently in Hokkaido, Japan, since Tuesday, February 23, 2021, with Iwamizawa city recording its second-highest snowfall of 2.05 m (6.7 feet) on Thursday, 25.

It resulted in disruptions in the city, particularly in train services and even the water supply in the neighboring Bibai city, where more than 39 000 households have been affected.

Heavy snow has been piling up in Hokkaido, especially in the Sorachi region, since Tuesday. Iwamizawa city was blanketed by 2.05 m (6.7 feet) of snow as of Friday morning, the second-highest snowfall in the area since the start of statistics. The figures were just 3 cm (1.2 inches) shy of the record 2.08 m (6.8 feet).


Attention

Florida manatees are dying in droves this year with 317 recorded dead - experts blame poor water quality, starvation

A manatee surfaces for air in Fort Myers, Fla., on Jan. 15.
© ANDREW WEST/THE NEWS-PRESSA manatee surfaces for air in Fort Myers, Fla., on Jan. 15.
It's already been a deadly year for Florida manatees.

More sea cows deaths have been documented through the first two months of the year than were recorded during those same two months in 2019 and 2020 combined, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission records.

Through Feb. 12, the state recorded 317 manatee deaths, though former FWC commissioner Ron Bergeron said he thought the number was closer to 350 sea cows.


Manatee advocates said the die-off is another example of poor water quality.