Earth ChangesS


Igloo

Freeze brings Paris to a standstill

Paris snow Alexandre III bridge
© Agence France PresseA cyclist struggles over the snow-covered Alexandre III bridge in Paris.
Icy roads left much of the Paris region paralysed on Thursday after the heaviest snowfall in almost 25 years, with drivers advised not to use their cars unless absolutely necessary.

Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux asked drivers to leave their vehicles at home the day after 11 centimetres (more than four inches) of snow fell on Paris, the most since 1987.

Snowman

French motorists camp out as snow smothers Paris

Paris snow
© Reuters/Benoit TessierCars drive in a snow-covered street in Paris as winter weather and sub-freezing temperatures continue in northern France.
Several thousand Parisians were forced to spend the night in emergency shelters or their cars, and transport remained chaotic on Thursday, after a blanket of snow fell on the French capital.

City authorities asked residents to avoid using their cars after the heaviest snowfall in nearly a quarter of a century covered city streets with ice and slush, causing traffic jams that prevented commuters getting home on Wednesday night.

Igloo

US: Monster Storm Could Be Winter's Worst

winter storm map
© AccuWeather.comGet your snow shovels and plows ready.
In areas hit by the monster snowstorm this weekend, these could be the worst conditions of the winter months, factoring in snow and returning wind, cold, and lake effect into next week.

The monster snowstorm slated for this weekend will hit portions of the Midwest, eastern Great Lakes, central Appalachians, Ontario and Quebec hardest.

The heaviest snow is most likely to begin over Iowa and surrounding areas Saturday. The snow will then encompass Michigan, western New York, southern and southwestern Ontario and southwestern and central Quebec for the remainder of the weekend.

Igloo

Best of the Web: Army moves in, fuel runs out in Scotland and East Anglia, coldest December for 100 years

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© Scotimage.comSoldiers on the streets: Troops help to clear away ice and snow in Edinburgh today as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years.
The Army was called in today to help clear away ice and snow as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years.

As temperatures plunged to -15c (5f) David Cameron ordered the military to step in and help the UK's beleaguered local councils.

The Prime Minister also revealed Cobra-style emergency meetings of senior officials and Ministers had been held to discuss the Government's response to the big freeze.

Edinburgh City Council was the first local authority to ask for help. Officials have held talks with the Ministry of Defence and the Scottish government to allow soldiers to remove built up snow and ice from roads and pavements.

The Scottish capital has seen the worst snowfall since 1963, leaving some of its most vulnerable residents unable to leave their homes. Up to 30ins of snow has fallen in parts of the city.

Under the plans, soldiers will be helping residents from the hardest hit areas of Edinburgh, as well as those who need to get access to medical help.

Igloo

Canada: Snowstorm Shuts Down London, Ontario

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© Submitted by Terry GreenSnow is seen piled up in front of a house in Lucan, Ont., on Tuesday.
Crashes close westbound Highway 401 for hours

Canadians getting a blast of stormy weather this week can be thankful they're not living in the snowed-under communities of southwestern Ontario, east of Lake Huron.

The London area has received about a metre of snow since the weekend, with five to 10 centimetres in the forecast for Wednesday.

Winter doesn't officially arrive for two weeks, but the city is already digging out from a record-setting snowfall. People have seen double the amount of snow considered normal for the entire month of December.

"Well, it's 100-plus centimetres of snow inside of two days. That's a record in terms of that period of time and probably about half of what we'd get all winter," newly elected London Mayor Joe Fontana said.

As of 6 a.m. ET, Lucan, to the north of London, recorded 153 centimetres of snow for the week. Forecasters said the small community will probably receive up to 10 centimetres more before the day is over.

There will be a break in snowfall on Thursday. However, a fast-moving storm dubbed the Alberta Clipper from the Prairies will sweep through the region on Friday, bringing with it another 10 centimetres of snow.

Igloo

Global "Warming"? Freeze of the Century: Coldest December for 100 Years in UK

Bus stop in snow, Whitburn, Scotland
© Getty ImagesBraving the bus stop: People wait amid the snow in Whitburn, Scotland
The army was put on high alert last night as Britain headed towards its coldest December for 100 years.

As temperatures plunged to -18c (0f) David Cameron said the military 'stands ready to help'.

The Prime Minister also revealed Cobra-style emergency meetings of senior officials and Ministers had been held to discuss the Government's response to the big freeze.

His comments came as reports of fuel running out at petrol stations came from Scotland and East Anglia.

After a further 4in of snow fell yesterday the Met Office warned that - despite a brief respite this weekend - temperatures would stay 'remarkably' low for another fortnight.

If that happens, this month could replace 1981 as the coldest December since records began in 1910.

To do so, the average mean temperature for the month will have to be lower than 0.2c.

As forecasters warned of more snow, sub-zero temperatures and ice for the Christmas period:
  • The Prime Minister urged homeowners to embrace the 'we're all in it together' strategy of the Conservatives Big Society by being good neighbours.
  • More than 100 motorists were rescued after being trapped as heavy snow fell on the A171 near Whitby, in North Yorkshire.
  • The AA said it had responded to more than 230,000 incidents in just 14 days.

Igloo

On the brink: Has corporate greed precipitated the Ice Age?

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There are many other factors involved, but the Deepwater Horizon explosion and disgusting handling of the oil spill probably was the tipping point that took the world into the Ice Age.


Bizarro Earth

Philippines - Earthquake Magnitude 6.1

Philippines Quake_081210
© USGSEarthquake Location
Date-Time:
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 at 06:47:18 UTC

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 at 02:47:18 PM at epicenter

Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

Location:
7.380°N, 126.603°E

Depth:
69.6 km (43.2 miles)

Region:
MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES

Distances:
115 km (70 miles) SSE of Hinatuan, Mindanao, Philippines

115 km (70 miles) ENE of Davao, Mindanao, Philippines

210 km (130 miles) SE of Butuan, Mindanao, Philippines

1005 km (630 miles) SE of MANILA, Philippines

Bizarro Earth

South Sandwich Islands Region - Earthquake Magnitude 6.5

South Sandwich Isld Quake_081210
© USGSEarthquake Location
Date-Time:
Wednesday, December 08, 2010 at 05:24:33 UTC

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 at 03:24:33 AM at epicenter

Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones

Location:
56.440°S, 25.866°W

Depth:
17.3 km (10.8 miles) set by location program

Region:
SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION

Distances:
85 km (55 miles) ENE of Visokoi Island, South Sandwich Islands

290 km (180 miles) N of Bristol Island, South Sandwich Islands

3480 km (2160 miles) SE of BUENOS AIRES, D.F., Argentina

Igloo

Frosty, Frozen and Frigid: Cold Snap Grips the U.S.

Cold weather frosting much of the country spared Florida's citrus crop Tuesday, but more near-record lows expected overnight will pose another challenge.

"We came through last night in pretty good shape," said Andrew Meadows, a spokesman for Florida Citrus Mutual. "We had some reports of mid-20s scattered across the citrus belt but it wasn't for any duration."

Fort Lauderdale recorded its lowest temperature on record for December 7, dropping to 40 degrees Tuesday morning. The old record was 42, set in 1841.

The National Weather Service issued hard freeze warnings for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning for much of the Florida panhandle, with freeze warnings and watches extending as far south as Hollywood. Parts of Alabama and Georgia were also under a freeze warning.