Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake Cold

Moscow temperatures plummet bringing city to a halt with unusual spring blizzard

moscow snow
© RIA Novosti / Ramil Sitdikov
In a freak turn of events, temperatures have plummeted in the Russian capital from 17 degrees to minus 4 over the last week. Over 10 centimeters of snow fell in Moscow overnight, bringing the city to a grinding halt on April 1.

Unfortunately the snow flurries that swept across Moscow on Monday night were not an April Fool's prank. Upon leaving their houses this morning, Muscovites found themselves confronted with snowdrifts and minus temperatures they normally associate with winter.

Ice Cube

Chicago: Coldest four months on record - ever

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© WeatherchannelWeather Channel producer Shawn Reynolds tweeted this incredible photo taken by pilot Hank Cain of a tundra-like Chicago, from above on January 23rd, 2014.
An over a century-old record falls.

The average temperature for December 2013 to March 2014 period in Chicago was only 22.0°F, 10 degrees below freezing, beating the old record set in the winter of 1903-04. It even beat the harsh winters of 1977/78 which were some of the worst ever.

While stories rage in the media about how global warming is a threat to mankind and nobody will be left untouched by it, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued this statement today.

No, it isn't an April fools joke.

Fish

Thousands of dead fish surfacing in Quad City Area, Illinois

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© Sara Anderson Fish Kill at Hennepin Canal
A walk along the peaceful bike path off the Hennepin Canal in Milan, Illinois looks like something out of a horror film.

Thousands of dead fish have washed up on shore as of Sunday, March 30, 2014.

Believe it or not, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeff Harrison says it's normal.

"This happens after every winter. When we have so many days with cold temperatures, the snow covers the ice on these ponds and rivers. Sunlight then can't penetrate into the water. That means oxygen is lacking for fish in the water," Harrison said.

Cloud Lightning

Giant hailstorms and heavy rain kill at least 16 people in China

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Destruction: This factory workshop was completely destroyed when giant hailstones hit the area of Dongguan in southern China's Guangxi province
Heavy storms and giant hailstones have left at least 16 people dead and caused widespread property damage in southern China.

The poor weather has lasted more than a week, bringing landslides and flooding - particularly in the autonomous Guangxi province, which borders Vietnam.

Local authorities say at least 16 people have been killed, although that figure is likely to rise as the true extent of the devastation cannot be fully assessed until the poor weather subsides.

Yesterday the Civil Affairs Department of Guangxi said at least 70 houses had collapsed, with another 1,716 badly damaged, and more than 2,000 hectares of crops destroyed.

Local weather forecasts said heavy rain and hail is expected to continue to hit parts of Guangxi over the next few days, before subsiding in the latter half of this week.

Landslide and flood warnings are likely to remain in place well into next week.

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No protection: A roof in Dongguan is covered in holes after giant hailstones crashed through the ceiling

Windsock

170km/h snowstorm blows two Canadian weathermen off their feet in Nova Scotia, not once but TWICE!

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Powerful: The men are being blown off camera by wind gusts that exceeded 100MPH

These two intrepid news reporters certainly earned their money this week.

This incredible video shows the moment severe snow storm conditions actually blew Mark Robinson and Chris Scott out of shot while doing pieces to camera.

Coincidentally the pair were explaining that the winds had got up to 170km/h when they knocked off their feet.

"The only storm I can compare this too is a hurricane," one can be heard saying.

"This has the added bonus of having the snow in the air... like standing in a sand blaster," they say before being literally blown away.

Unsurprisingly the clip has proved popular online with over 85,000 people tuning in less than a day.

Comment: Here's video footage from another location showing these two 'extreme weathermen' being blown over in this snow'icane:




Snowflake Cold

Record low temperatures for late March in Michigan, Ohio and Georgia

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© Scott Olson/Getty Images
Toledo, Ohio, breaks 120-year-old record. The low of 9F (-12.8C) broke the previous record of 11 F (-11.7C) set in 1894.

In Detroit, Michigan, the record low of 11 F for March 26 was tied.

In Macon, Georgia, the low of 26 F (-3.3C) broke the old record set most recently in 2006.

Unusually cold air for late March also challenged record low temperatures Wednesday morning from Cleveland to Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; London, Ky.; Nashville, Tenn.; Charlotte, N.C.; Charlottesville; Va.; Beckley, W.Va.; and Harrisburg, Pa.

Meanwhile, freezing temperatures dipped into the Deep South Wednesday morning, including Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and northern Florida.

Record Cold, Biting Winds Sweep East in Wake of Blizzard

Thanks to Jack Hydrazine for this link

Ice Cube

Ice Age Cometh: Coldest U.S. winter in a century

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The circumpolar vortex has put this season into the record-books. The United States has just gone through its coldest interequinoctial winter (equinox to equinox) in a century. Hat-tip to CFACT, which has just sent me the graph.

The last U.S. winter colder than this one was in 1911/12, before the First World War.

Thank you, America! Most of Britain has had an unusually mild and wet winter, for you have had more than your fair share of the Northern Hemisphere's cold weather this season.

Global warming? What global warming?

Fish

Thousands of fish and frogs dead due harsh cold weather in Killingly, Connecticut

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© iWitness photoA fish kill in Killingly happened naturally, DEEP said.
Thousands of dead fish found in a pond in Killingly happened naturally, according to environmental officials.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said thousands of fish and frogs died at Colwell Pond, also known as Lions Park Pond. Many of them froze in clusters along a very popular neighborhood pond.

It was first reported by a neighbor who said she noticed it in an area off of Lewis Boulevard. She said she was concerned that chemicals may have caused it.

"We've never seen so many dead fish," said Malinda Frantz, of Killingly. "In 30 years, I've lived in the neighborhood and I've never seen dead fish. I've never seen dead fish like this."

The DEEP classified it as a winter fish kill, which meant the amount of dissolved oxygen in the pond had been depleted. It said snow or thick ice that can cover ponds blocks sunlight, and that prevents plants in the water from producing oxygen.

DEEP said fish typically die in the winter and are usually noticed after the ice melts.

Employees with the town's parks and recreation department told Eyewitness News the fish will be cleaned up when the pond thaws out a little bit more.

Snowflake

Powerful Spring blizzard cuts power to thousands in New England

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© AP/Michael DwyerWind-driven waves crash on a sea wall in Scituate, Mass., Wednesday, March 26, 2014. Cape Cod and the islands were expected to bear the brunt of the spring storm that struck full force Wednesday.
Mother Nature proceeds to show no mercy, as only a few days after the official start of spring, the East Coast was blasted with yet another major snowstorm.

Spanning from Virginia up through New England and parts of Atlantic Canada, the system brought snow to regions in Maryland and Washington, D.C., before heading up the coast and slamming Cape Cod, Mass., with blizzard conditions.

Grounding flights, causing traffic accidents and knocking out power to nearly 6,000 people throughout Massachusetts, the storm was accompanied by howling winds that gusted up to more than 80 mph in Nantucket.

The severity of the winds also generated dangerous travel conditions, as blowing and drifting snow whipped the island and surrounding areas.

As the storm moves out of the United States and into Atlantic Canada, the Maritimes and western Newfoundland, it will be accompanied by hurricane-force winds, producing treacherous travel conditions.

Comment:
STILL not done - Massive March Nor'easter bigger than Hurricane Sandy expected to bring winds, snow, cold blast to Northeast


Snowflake

Experts warn the brutal weather that forced the cancellation of today's search for MH370 could continue for months

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Rough seas ahead: the HMAS Success has now left the target area, with severe weather and huge swells forcing it to abandon the search.
Unstable weather and dangerous conditions caused by an Antarctic cold front hitting warm tropical air 2,500kms off Australia's west coast is expected to severely affect the search for MH370 over the coming weeks and months.

An aviation meteorologist and an air and sea consultant have both predicted rough times for the planes and ships in the Indian Ocean, and an 'on and off' mission at best as the area's eight-month-long winter brings brutal swells and high winds to the search area.

Aviation safety consultant, Geoffrey Thomas of airline industry business publication airlineratings.com, warned today's weather was merely 'a taste' of conditions which would soon close in over the search area.