Severe winter weather sweeps North America, bringing blizzards and unexpected heatwaves.
Icy Storm Wreaks Havoc Across the United States, Bakes Canada
Winter's wrath is causing a whirlwind of chaos, and it's not just about snow and subzero temperatures. As winter storm titans sweep across the United States, record-smashing warmth engulfs Canada. Here's the scoop:
Over two-thirds of Americans in 28 states are under winter weather alerts. Snowstorms targeting the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have forced countless schools and businesses to close, while the East Coast is sweating through record-high temperatures.
Some parts of the North, such as Minnesota, could see up to 2ft (60cm) of snow—their biggest snowfall in three decades. The state's governor, Tim Walz, has prepared the National Guard to assist drivers stuck during the storms, and they may break the state's record for snowfall.
Meanwhile, eastward parts of the United States are experiencing temperatures up to 100F (38C) warmer than those in North states. Areas like Washington, D.C., are on track to break an almost 150-year-old heat record.
If you're one of California's 39 million residents, brace yourself. All of you should witness snow either falling nearby or covering hilltops, according to Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California-Los Angeles.
Temperatures plummeting to -9 F have already been recorded in parts of Montana.
But don't get too cozy if you're Canadian. The same storm that's dumping snow on the United States is baking Canada. On Wednesday, Lexington, Kentucky, and Nashville, Tennessee, shattered records stretching over a century, with other cities like Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Atlanta, see record highs.
Washington D.C. could hit 80F on Thursday, which would break a record from 1874. Orlando, Florida, might reach 90F, and New Orleans, Louisiana, could sway towards 84F.
Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a climate scientist at Columbia University, told BBC News that this pattern—where the western United States is colder than usual, and the eastern United States is warmer—has been persistent this winter.
Even Canada isn't immune to winter's grip; the storm has caused hundreds of flight cancellations. As snowstorms pummel the U.S., most of Toronto is bracing for substantial ice build-up due to this cold snap.
In Alberta and the prairies, severe cold warnings have been issued, with temperatures dipping as low as -40°F (-40°C) in some regions, accompanied by wind chill.
This unusual combination of record-breaking lows and highs across the United States and Canada can be attributed to a complex interplay of atmospheric forces, including the polar vortex, stratospheric warming events, and pressure anomalies.
But let's not get too scientific—just grab your woolens or sunscreen and hunker down until this wild winter ride subsides!
The unusual weather pattern is causing news headlines, with winter storms hitting the United States and causing environmental chaos, while Canada experiences unprecedented warmth. Weather-forecasting experts predict that this weather phenomenon could lead to record-breaking snowfall in states like Minnesota, yet East Coast regions will be experiencing record-high temperatures. Due to the cold snap, Toronto is bracing for substantial ice build-up, while Alberta and the prairies are under severe cold warnings, with temperatures potentially dipping as low as -40°F (-40°C).
