Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake Cold

A bone-numbing blast: Storm wallops central US with heavy snow, wind chills near 50 below

Doyle Rice
USA TODAY
Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:19 UTC
A winter storm moving across the Midwest dumped snow in the region and has caused dangerous driving conditions.
© USATA winter storm moving across the Midwest dumped snow in the region and has caused dangerous driving conditions.
A powerful storm continued to wreak havoc across the nation on Tuesday as winter refused to relinquish its icy grip on the U.S.

The storm walloped the Upper Midwest with snow and ice, creating dangerous travel conditions, closing scores of schools and causing a chain-reaction accident that injured at least six people in North Dakota.

The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for parts of the Dakotas on Tuesday. "Travel is discouraged," the weather service said. By Tuesday morning, over 20 inches of snow had fallen in Washburn, Wisconsin, just east of Duluth, Minnesota, AccuWeather said.

That same storm also ushered in bitterly cold temperatures across much of the central U.S. Wind chills approached 50 degrees below zero in some locations. "With wind chills this cold, frostbite could happen in minutes," the weather service warned.


Back-to-back storms to spread snow across north-central US
Two storms will work their way from the High Plains to the Northeast, bringing a mix of snow and ice behind a blast of Arctic air this week.
ACCUWEATHER
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Snowflake

Juhyos: Japan's enchanting 'snow monsters' emerge again and attract thousands of tourists

Basit Aijaz
India Times
Tue, 22 Feb 2022 15:09 UTC
snow monsters
Every winter, Mount Zao, a volcano standing between Japan's Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures, is filled with fleeting figures that resemble magical beings.

These figurines are known as 'juhyo'--which translates to 'snow monsters'--in the area. These "creatures" of snow and ice are built up over tree trunks and branches.

According to AccuWeather, the quirky and unique creations are formed when a set of complex weather conditions occur together. The "snow monsters" come up when windblown ice is covered by snow in repeated cycles, building hulking shapes on the mountain slopes.

As a result, the snow and water droplets solidify in various forms against the tree branches. With every fresh snowfall, these shapes further take form over the trees—giving shape to a series of unique "snow monsters".

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Attention

Snow biker killed in avalanche in southern Montana


k2radio.com
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:57 UTC
avalanche
An investigation is underway after a snow biker was killed in an avalanche in southern Montana.

The Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center reports the motorized snow bike triggered the slide on Miller Mountain in the Sheep Creek Drainage north of Cooke City on Saturday evening.

The rider, whose name and age have not been released, was carried through cliffs and was partially buried.

An investigator with the avalanche center planned to head to the slide to gather more information Sunday.

At least 10 people have died in avalanches in the U.S. so far this winter season.


Source: AP
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Snowflake

Up to 50 centimeters of fresh snow in the Swiss Alps


WetterOnline
Tue, 22 Feb 2022 13:44 UTC
snow
Fancy winter? Then off to the Swiss Alps! The storm "Antonia" brought up to 50 centimeters of fresh snow in the Swiss Alps. Heavy clearing equipment was used here to clear the lanes of the white splendor.


(Translated by Google)
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Snowflake Cold

Heavy snow batters northern Japan, disrupting rail and air traffic


Japan Today
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 12:32 UTC
snow piled up in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Feb. 21, 2022.
© KyodoSnow piled up in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Feb. 21, 2022.
Heavy snow hit northern Japan on Monday, disrupting air and railway traffic, with weather authorities warning of more blizzards as well as high waves for the region and also some eastern parts of the country.

Japan Airlines Co. and All Nippon Airways Co. canceled more than 140 flights to and from Hokkaido and elsewhere, while Hokkaido Railway Co. suspended all train runs to and from JR Sapporo Station.

More than 970 train runs were suspended in Sapporo and other areas of Hokkaido in the morning, accounting for over 70% of the some 1,230 daily train services on average in the region.

With areas near Sapporo expected to receive up to 50 centimeters of snow by Tuesday morning, more train services may be affected. The Hokkaido capital had seen snowfall of 11 cm in 24 hours through 6 a.m. Monday, according to the Meteorological Agency.

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Snowflake Cold

Millions of Americans will be forced into an involuntary polar plunge this week

Allison Chinchar
CNN
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:33 UTC
Snow (blue), rain (green), and ice (pink) accumulations across the contiguous US Sunday through Tuesday this week.
Snow (blue), rain (green), and ice (pink) accumulations across the contiguous US Sunday through Tuesday this week.
After a mild end to the weekend for many states, Old Man Winter will make a comeback as we start off the new workweek.

"Temperatures will be 10 to 20 degrees below average over the northern tier states by Monday morning," the Weather Prediction Center said Saturday.

And that's just the beginning. The thermometer will slip to 30 to 40 degrees below normal by Tuesday and Wednesday, as a strong high pressure system begins to spread Arctic air farther south and east.

Many cities will see a sharp polar plunge in a 48-hour span.

Denver will go from a high temperature in the low 60s Sunday all the way down to 15 for the peak Tuesday, with snow showers.

Rapid City, SD will slide from a high of 50 degrees Sunday to 0 degrees for a high Tuesday. By Tuesday night, the bottom will drop out in the Black Hills to 17 degrees below zero.
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Snowflake

Heavy snow continues falling along Sea of Japan coast - Almost 50 inches (UPDATE)


Japan Today
Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:23 UTC
snow
Prefectures along the Sea of Japan coast received heavy snow on Thursday, with the Japan Meteorological Agency issuing a warning for more to come.

The agency said the the heavy snowfall is being caused by a low-pressure system over the Sea of Japan and a cold air mass which has brought the lowest temperatures so far this winter to the Tohoku and Chugoku regions, Fuji TV reported. Officials have warned of disruptions to traffic, train and flight services.

By noon Thursday, 64 centimeters of snow had fallen on Ono City in Fukui Prefecture, and 63 centimeters on Shirakawa City in Gifu Prefecture, the agency said.


Comment: Update: NHK reports on February 18:
Heavy snow pounds parts of northeast, central Japan

Heavy snow has been buffeting parts of northeastern and central Japan. People in the areas are advised to stay vigilant for possible traffic disruptions, power outages, avalanches and snow falling from roofs.

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a low pressure system and a strong cold air mass have been bringing snow to areas along the Sea of Japan.


As of 4 a.m. on Friday, the snowfall had reached 1.41 meters in Shonai Town in Yamagata Prefecture and 1.26 meters in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture.

Parts of the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions have recorded two to three times the average snowfall for this time of year.

More snow is expected. Total snowfall through the 24 hours through Friday evening could reach 70 centimeters in Tohoku and 60 centimeters in Niigata Prefecture and northern parts of the Kanto region.

People in areas with heavy snow are advised to be careful of accidents during snow removal work, and to fit winter tires or snow chains to their vehicles.

The snowy conditions could reduce visibility. Caution is also advised against strong winds, lightning and rough seas.




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Arrow Down

Two young skiers killed by avalanche in French Alps

Bob
Eindhoven News
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 14:43 UTC
AVALANCHE
© Studio040
The two Eindhoven skiers (20 & 21) lost their lives in an avalanche in the French Alps on Monday afternoon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that they were skiing outside the guarded slopes, according to rescue services.

It concerns two men of 20 and 21 years. They were taken to the hospital in Grenoble. They were skiing off-piste near Saint-Colomban-des-Villards. Their families have been informed by the Ministry.

Around one o'clock in the afternoon, a ski lift attendant from the Les Sybelles ski area saw a snow cloud on one of the slopes of the Col de Bellard. He immediately suspected that it was an avalanche, so two patrols went to check it out. They discovered footprints off the slopes of the Saint-Colomban-des-Villards ski station. This was reported by De Telegraaf, who spoke to people involved in the rescue operation.

Comment: Nine killed in 3 days after more than 100 avalanches hit Austria

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Arrow Down

Iowa man identified as avalanche victim near West Yellowstone, Montana


Casper Star Tribune
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:11 UTC
The avalanche crown was measured 4-11 inches deep and 75 feet wide.
© GNFACThe avalanche crown was measured 4-11 inches deep and 75 feet wide.
A 30-year-old Iowa man died of asphyxiation after being buried Sunday in an avalanche west of West Yellowstone, Montana.

The Gallatin County Coroner's Office on Tuesday identified Bradie Harold Becker, of Algona, Iowa, as the victim. Becker was separated from his riding group when the avalanche occurred.

According to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center's staff, Becker was riding on a 45-degree slope when the snow broke 4 to 11 inches deep and a 75-foot-wide slide swept him downhill and against a tree, where his head was buried under a foot of snow.

The snowmobiler was wearing a helmet and avalanche airbag, which had been deployed. The bags are meant to quickly inflate and keep the wearer higher atop the snow as it moves.

The GNFAC staff estimated Becker may have been buried for 15 to 25 minutes before he was discovered. Attempts to revive him were attempted for an hour.

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Arrow Down

Seven Indian soldiers killed by avalanche in Arunachal Pradesh


The International News ( Pakistan)
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 18:58 UTC
avalanche
Indian army rescuers on Tuesday recovered the bodies of seven soldiers buried in an avalanche while on patrol along a remote Himalayan frontier contested by China.

The troops were part of a larger deployment in Arunachal Pradesh state and were caught at an altitude of 4,400 metres (14,500 feet) in an area that had seen heavy snowfall in the days before Sunday´s avalanche.

Two days of searching in rough weather ended without the rescue team finding any survivors among the missing soldiers."Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone involved, all seven have been confirmed deceased," Lieutenant Colonel Harsh Wardhan Pande, an Indian army spokesman, said in a statement.
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