N America weather: Polar vortex brings record temperatures

[alp227]

Source: BBC

Parts of the US are braced for potentially record-breaking low temperatures as a "polar vortex" brings more freezing weather.

A winter storm has already blanketed areas of Canada and the north-eastern US with up to 2ft (60 cm) of snow.

It has been blamed for 16 deaths in recent days and the cancellation of more than 3,700 flights this weekend.

Schools in Chicago are among those closing as officials tell people to stay indoors on Monday.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25609411

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More coverage: AP, CBC

Regional coverage: Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, Indianapolis Star, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Lexington Herald-Leader, Buffalo News

[RobertEarl]

1. Polar ice and sea temps

At this link (not hot) you can see the sea temps and extrapolate sea ice content from the temperature bars displayed.

weather.gc.ca/data/analysis/351_50.gif C+P in your browser

At the top of the map and to the left is Russia. Center to top right is the N. Europe with the US in the middle bottom.

You can see that the temps near the Arctic circle off N. Europe are above freezing. Halfway to Siberia, the last time I looked - above freezing.

The vortex, I think, refers to a cyclonic circulation, meaning that the winds are blowing from the warmer N. Europe waters around to Siberia and on to Alaska, Canada and into the US.

This happens because warmer air rises, having inherent energy to do so. While cold air sinks. This rise and sink causes the winds.

The Atlantic is quite warm and holds the gulf warm stream, and is the main component of the warm air in N. Europe that sets up the vortex. Imo.

[MyNameGoesHere]

2. Having spent the last hour reading up on polar vortex I am afraid this is next

Or maybe I shouldn't read so much.

[anasv]

3. no

I think we're going to turn into a hellhole like Venus.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Meanwhile here's what's heading for Europe today.

Last edited Mon Jan 6, 2014, 08:40 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.holidaysincornwall.com/largest-swells-of-the-decade/

Still pretty mild here unlike last year which was a dog. Temp was c. 50f last night.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25618080

[Ghost Dog]

9. Yeah. Heading for my islands, we reckon. Christina. Cold.

[center]

http://www.cazatormentas.net/foro/meteorologia-el-tiempo-en-las-islas-canarias/seguimiento-de-la-situacion-meteorologica-en-canarias-enero-2014/60/[/center]

I can hear big waves beating the shore from here, about four miles away there.

[Auggie]

5. Meanwhile, California prepares for drought

[magical thyme]

6. here in midcoast Maine it is pushing 50 with rain

The prediction was 48 for today with occasional showers. It's already 49 and rains hard off and on. Sometime tonight it will plummet to the low teens. Tomorrow will be a world of ice again.

[jakeXT]

7. More than 30,000 IPL customers without power; utility says most should be restored by Thursday

...

At 9:51 a.m., Indianapolis Power & Light had 30,382 customers without power. All told, approximately 60,000 IPL customers have been affected by the winter storm, said IPL spokeswoman Katie Bunton.

"Due to the extreme conditions, damage is significant," Bunton said. "The vast majority of customers should be restored by Thursday morning."

IPL has enlisted help from neighboring utilities to boost manpower, she added. IPL now has 70 crews, representing approximately 260 workers, working now round-the-clock to restore power, she said. That number includes some workers who might still be traveling to Indianapolis to assist.

IPL has had extra crews working since Sunday to restore power and planned to have extra manpower through Thursday, she said

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/01/06/winter-storm-leaves-thousands-of-indianapolis-area-residents-without-power/4335945/

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. "Polar vortex" Hmmm, where have I heard of that before...

[jakeXT]

10. Guardian coverage

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/06/cold-weather-snow-hits-us-live-coverage

[freethought]

11. I worked outside Chicago years ago

in the Calumet City area. I was there during a severe cold snap. Tempretures went down to -30 to -20 with windchill. I remember the plant manager where I was working shut down operations for two days. It's not like any work was getting done anyway. I remember watching the local news and seeing report of people (poor, elderly, or homeless) dying of hypothermia and in a few cases the bodies were found frozen solid. But this situation is bigger and even colder. It's hard to imagine.