It will be the coldest Christmas in 40 years
From north to south, 60% of the population – some 200 million Americans – are on alert for what promises to be the coldest Christmas in 40 years. The Bomb Cyclone, a rapidly intensifying explosive storm, has already dropped mercury to 40-50 degrees below zero in the northern states. Strong winds, heavy snowfall and cold cause many inconveniences for air travel. The winter storm has already caused more than 2,000 flight cancellations. Meteorologists speak of a unique climate event.
Over a million people without heating
In Des Moines, Iowa, it’s too cold even to skate: authorities have ordered the designated areas closed because “it’s too dangerous to be outside for more than 10 or 15 minutes.” In Wyoming and Colorado — where Denver experienced the second coldest day on its history — temperatures dropped 20 to 30 degrees in an hour, causing many problems on roads and electrical infrastructure. One and a half million people are already groping in the dark and, above all, without heating. And the situation will only get worse in the next few hours.
Particularly interested in the Great Lakes and Midwest
According to the US weather service NWS, the Great Lakes region in the northeast of the country on the border with Canada is particularly badly affected. In Erie County, south of the Great Lakes, in upstate New York, 911 services were temporarily overwhelmed. Marc Poloncarz, district manager, ha
Urged on Twitter to only ask for help in the “most critical cases” and for residents to stay home despite the disruptions
electricity and heating. Transport to emergency shelters is now nearly impossible, he added.
The recommendations
The NWS urged travelers to be extra cautious over the Christmas weekend, warning of so-called “whiteout” conditions, meaning visibility and orientation are severely limited by snow. Traveling under these conditions is “extremely dangerous and sometimes impossible”. Extremely low temperatures are also detected. In the state of Montana, “We measured -40 degrees this morning. Just a few minutes in the cold could result in a freezing point,” the NWS said.