millions of people in the Midwest of the USA have to adjust to an extreme cold wave with temperatures of minus 34 degrees Celsius and below. The National weather service (NWS) warned on Tuesday (local time) in front of “life-threatening, Arctic winds” and “felt” temperatures of around minus 45 degrees Celsius. “These are very dangerous conditions that can result in less than five minutes to frostbite on unprotected skin,” tweeted the NWS office in Minneapolis.
Approximately 212 million inhabitants would be expected until Thursday, with values below the freezing point, it was said. Responsible for the “Arctic cold” is the so-called polar vortex, a Band of cold westerly winds that circles normally over the North pole. The vortex is weakened, the air in the lower Latitudes to escape. To the Midwest USA Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin are counted.
Until Wednesday had been cancelled because of the cold at various airports more than 2,700 flights, according to the broadcaster CNN. Especially Chicago was affected. The million-strong metropolis in the state of Illinois has been described as the “epicenter” of the cold wave – the expected record values of minus 32 degrees Celsius.
schools closed
in the face of the brutal frost, even the weather must capitulate audited deliverer of the US postal service in many places. In many States, schools, and some universities also remain closed.
pictures: cold snap, the United States seeks home
at Least two deaths are the extreme cold was attributed In Milwaukee was found dead on Tuesday a 55-Year-old dead, who had previously shovelled away in front of his Garage the snow, as CNN reported. In Rochester (Minnesota) died on Sunday of a 22-Year-old. The man had no key and was not therefore come into the house.
In Illinois called Governor J. B. Pritzker the case of a disaster. “The cold weather , between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning on the way to us, could bring us temperatures that we have not previously experienced. They represent a serious risk to the health of people across the state,” wrote Pritzker.
“Windchill”-effect
Even the Governor of Wisconsin, Tony Evers, said the case of a disaster. In the state of Iowa, where similar low values are expected, recommends that the competent NWS-branch citizens, “to avoid deep breaths” and to speak as little as possible: “This is the coldest air that many of us have ever experienced,” it was said in your weather report of Tuesday morning (local time).
The perceived temperatures – in the US it is called “Windchill”-values are often significantly lower. On Tuesday morning the state of Maine have been calculated according to the NWS in the U.S.-values of up to minus 49 degrees Celsius. The “Windchill effect” describes the cooling of the skin with increased wind speed. (fal/sda)
Created: 30.01.2019, 10:13 PM
