Extreme Temperatures
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Ice Cube

Global warming, please! USS Little Rock stuck in Montreal ice, may not move until March

The USS Little Rock
© The Canadian Press Via APThe USS Little Rock is moored in Montreal's old port.
The U.S. Navy's newest warship, the USS Little Rock (LCS-9), was expected to be well on its way to its new home port in sunny Jacksonville, Florida, at this point, but it became trapped in ice in Montreal and it may not budge until spring.

Commissioned in Buffalo, New York on Dec. 16, the $440 million warship was set to be homeward bound to the Sunshine State the next day, but its departure was pushed back three days because weather conditions on Lake Erie.

The USS Little Rock left Buffalo on Dec. 20 and made a routine port visit in Montreal seven days later, where it remains docked, according to the Buffalo News.

A sustained cold snap played caused ice to form faster than expected along the St. Lawrence Seaway and has kept the USS Little Rock docked since its arrival.

Snowflake

Japan's biggest snowfall in years paralyzes Tokyo transportation system

japan snow
© Anastasia Fedotova
The biggest snowfall in years has partially paralyzed Japan's transportation system and has led to scores of injuries. Emergency services have been working overtime in the capital Tokyo.

At least 67 people have suffered various injuries due to severe weather in Japan's metropolitan area according to national broadcaster NHK.

The snowfall has prompted the country's weather agency to issue a heavy snow warning for Tokyo for the first time in four years.

Snowflake

Over a meter of snow in 24 hours for Mount Washington in British Columbia

Mount Washington
© Terry BergenMount Washington
In addition to widespread power outages across British Columbia's Lower Mainland due to high winds, Mount Washington was closed Sunday as more than a metre of snow fell in a 24 hour period, raising the avalanche danger rating to high.

As a result of the massive amount of fresh powder, Mount Washington Road was closed from the resort to the junction of Highway 19, according to Drive B.C.

Meaghan Barker of Victoria, is one of many people who are stuck in the area. She arrived Thursday night and is staying in a cabin on a road called Fosters Place with her parents, husband and daughter.


Snowflake

Snow depth in Sweden sets new seasonal record

snow
Most of Sweden, apart from the very far south and the west coast, was covered in snow on Monday morning - but meteorologists advised snow lovers to enjoy it while it lasts.

Mountain ski resort Kittelfjäll in Vilhelmina municipality recorded weekend snow depths of more than 150 centimetres - the deepest snow cover so far this winter, according to national weather agency SMHI.

Further north, the town of Jokkmokk, currently busy preparing for its annual Sami winter market which gets under way on February 1st, boasted 135 centimetres of the white stuff.

The central Svealand region, which includes Stockholm, recorded its deepest snow cover in Lillhamra in Dalarna where 102 centimetres of snow had fallen by Sunday, according to SMHI.

Snowflake

Several ski resorts in the Alps cut off AGAIN as heavy snowfall closes rail and road links

snow
A number of ski resorts in the Alps are currently in accessible as heavy snow either makes mountain roads and rail lines impassable or local authorities close them due to the avalanche danger.

The latest heavy snow, which may deposit a metre of snow at some resorts over the next three days, is the latest in a series of heavy snowfalls over the past month

Zermatt announced yesterday evening that it was closing its rail access from neighbouring Tasch due to the avalanche danger at 10pm and this morning said access remained closed for the time being with no end point yet known. Last night they advised arriving skiers to look for accommodation in Swiss cities rather than making the journey up to Zermatt.


Comment: See also: Over a meter of snow dumps on the Alps in 72 hours, with another meter forecast over next 3 days


Snowflake Cold

At least 12 snowy owls from the Arctic found dead in Kansas, likely starved to death

This snowy owl was photographed while alive
© Bob GressThis snowy owl was photographed while alive but was later found dead at Lake Cheney. The birds normally inhabit the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia but have been pushed south this winter.
A snowy owl was found dead recently at Cheney Lake Reservoir.

It most likely starved to death.

It is among nearly a dozen snowy owls found dead this winter by wildlife officials, and there may be more.

More than five dozen of the majestic white owls have shown up in Kansas this winter, pushed far from their usual habitat of the Arctic.

"Several of us, based on information, believe three-fourths of the owls seen in Kansas will not survive," said Chuck Otte, secretary of the Kansas Ornithological Society. "That's not uncommon. These are first-year birds hatched this year. In the wild, 80 percent of birds do not survive the first 12 months. People get upset about this but it's a rough world out there."

Snowflake

Snow blocks 5,000 kilometers of roads in Morocco

snow
© Saadia Dinia
The Moroccan Minister of Transport, Abdelkader Amara, told parliament on Monday that nearly 5,000 kilometers of national, regional, and provincial roads were closed this year due to "exceptional" snowfall.

To address the unprecedented road conditions, the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment, Transport, and Logistics mobilized 117 snow plows. Amara also made a public reminder that, before getting behind the wheel, Moroccans can use the application "MaRoute" to access the most recent information about the state of the roads across the country.


Attention

Over 1,000 turtles stunned by the unusually cold weather are rescued off Florida Panhandle

Rescued turtles are transported to Gulf World Marine Park, with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back in the bay
Rescued turtles are transported to Gulf World Marine Park, with the hopes of rehabilitating them and releasing them back in the bay
More than 1,000 sea turtles stunned by unusually cold weather have been rescued from waters off the Florida Panhandle this month.

U.S. Geological Survey sea turtle expert Margaret Lamont said cold-stunned sea turtles began appearing in St. Joseph Bay in early January as freezing temperatures gripped the region and water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico plummeted.

'It's now over 1,000, maybe up to 1,100,' she told the Tampa Bay Times, referencing the number of turtles that had been collected so far from the bay.

That number is usually 30 or 40.

Snowflake Cold

Texas shatters record for winter electricity use - grid manages without rolling blackouts

Snow covers Corpus Christi in Texas on December 8 2017. First time in 13 years. via
© InstagramSnow covers Corpus Christi in Texas on December 8 2017. First time in 13 years
Bitter cold across Texas brought a new winter record for peak electricity use, ERCOT, the state's independent electric grid operator announced Wednesday morning.

At one point, Texans were using 65,731 megawatts, blowing past the previous record by nearly 5 percent. Multiple records were set overnight as temperatures plunged statewide, but the new peak arrived between 7 and 8 a.m.

The peak use was significantly higher than the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' projection of 61,068 megawatts for a peak this winter. It fell short of the "extreme" peak projection by just 1,044 megawatts.

Overnight, the Dallas area recorded a low of 13 degrees, well below the average low of 34. While frigid, that was still far from the record low of 2 degrees in 1930.

Snowflake

Heavy snow and snapping trees concern forest owners in Norway

tree damage
© Berit Heggholmen
Forest owners in Norway say they are concerned about damage to trees and subsequent loss of earnings caused by heavy snow .

"We can no longer be sure of stable winters," forest owner Thor Wraa told broadcaster NRK.

A week of extreme weather with heavy snowfall in several parts of the country has caused significant disruption, with fallen trees dragging down telephone wires and blocking roads.

Wraa, who comes from the northern Telemark county, told NRK that falling trees directly affected his livelihood.

"We are concerned. Trees with as much snow as there is now are right on the limit of breaking or falling," he said.