Record-shattering snow, cold, shatters "Global Warming" theories

Posted: 2015-02-21

The deep freeze that broke records in hundreds of cities across the eastern half of the United States on Friday will last most of next week. 

“Higher amounts over the next two days will probably be across southern Indiana and Illinois and eastward through Ohio into western Pennsylvania,” said Bruce Sullivan, a senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “That’s where it looks like the jackpot will be.”

But even before the latest snowstorm, residents had to deal with school cancellations, power outages, road hazards and water main breaks from the punishing cold.

Here’s a look at the latest weather and the effect it is having around the country:

SIBERIAN EXPRESS? “Polar vortex” is so last year. Forecasters are calling the record-setting bout of icy air the “Siberian Express” because winds coming from Russia are traveling over the Arctic Circle and pushing into Canada and the United States.

“We can almost show the trajectory from Siberia all the way to the U.S.,” Sullivan said, noting meteorologists began using the term long ago.

Despite being the buzzword of winter 2014, polar vortex also has been used for decades in meteorology. It is a pocket of very cold air that typically swirls around the North Pole.

“Sometimes little pieces break off,” Sullivan said. That has also happened this week, meaning a frosty one-two punch.

NASA SHIVERS: Schools in Alabama sent students home early and NASA shut down its Huntsville facility Friday as a storm began unloading ice, sleet and snow.

The weather service said roads were impassable in at least seven counties.

Dozens of school systems dismissed students early or canceled classes altogether. NASA closed early at its Marshall Space Flight Center because of deteriorating road conditions.

Huntsville and the rest of the state’s northeastern corner is under a winter storm warning through early today, and forecasters say much of northern Alabama and Georgia could get snow and sleet, including metro Atlanta.

BONE-CHILLING AND RECORD-BREAKING: Bitter cold temperatures have shattered decades-old records from Cincinnati to Washington to New York.

The National Weather Service said the low Friday got down to 6 degrees at Reagan National Airport, just across the Potomac River from Washington. At Baltimore’s airport, the temperature dipped to a record low 2 degrees.

In western Pennsylvania, temperatures dipped to minus 18 in New Castle, minus 15 in Butler and 6 below zero in Pittsburgh — all records.

Records also were set at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey (1 degree); Trenton, N.J. (zero degrees); New York’s Central Park (2 degrees); and Cincinnati (12 degrees below zero).

FROZEN FERRIES: A Boston-bound commuter ferry carrying more than 100 passengers had trouble steering in the ice and had to be towed to port.

The ferry Massachusetts departed Hingham at about 8:30 a.m. Friday right behind an ice breaker, said Alison Nolan, an official with Boston Harbor Cruises. After the ferry went off course, the ice breaker towed it to Boston, arriving about 45 minutes later than normal. No one was hurt and the boat was not damaged.

Ferry service was canceled elsewhere in the Northeast. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry, which connects Delaware and New Jersey, halted operations because of ice and wind. Ferries on New York’s East River also were canceled.

- See more at: http://www.chieftain.com/news/weather/3357548-120/snow-colorado-friday-weather#sthash.6ONZ8ogU.dpuf

http://www.chieftain.com/news/weather/3357548-120/snow-colorado-friday-weather

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