Thank you "Time" magazine!. Now is an excellent time to stop denying the dangers of a warming planet.
Climate change skeptics are pointing to the record cold weather as evidence that the globe isn't warming. But it could be that melting Arctic ice is making sudden cold snaps more likely—not less
By Brian Walsh @brayanwalsh
January 6, 2014
...But not only does the cold spell not disprove climate change, (click here) it may well be that global warming could be making the occasional bout of extreme cold weather in the U.S. even more likely. Right now much of the U.S. is in the grip of a polar vortex, which is pretty much what it sounds like: a whirlwind of extremely cold, extremely dense air that forms near the poles. Usually the fast winds in the vortex—which can top 100 mph (161 k/h)—keep that cold air locked up in the Arctic. But when the winds weaken, the vortex can begin to wobble like a drunk on his fourth martini, and the Arctic air can escape and spill southward, bringing Arctic weather with it. In this case, nearly the entire polar vortex has tumbled southward, leading to record-breaking cold, as you can see in this weatherbell.com graphic:...
I am in the frigid area of the country. It is bitter cold. I wear layers when I go outside; at least four, sometimes five. Long thermal underwear, usually pullover with long sleeves, then a sweater on top of that, then a zip up sweater, then a navy blue sweat jacket and finally a bright pink snow jacket with a hood. I wear leather gloves over my hands and then thermally lined knitted gloves over them. Two pair of insulated sox and hiking boots that lace up so the snow can't go into the bottom of my boot and rob my body heat. Don't try this at home.
I took one glove off and exposed by bare hand to the air and within 3 minutes it became cold and within another 60 seconds it started to tingle. I was standing right outside the door to my home when I did this. It is incredibly dangerous for anything living. I put seed out for the birds and a loaf of bread for any wildlife that lives in the ground. So, if there is anything alive and hunkering down they'll be able for find some carbohydrates to burn for body heat.
The snow is blowing and there are white out conditions. I went into town to get supplies and when a truck traveling in the other direction passed me, I could not see an inch in front of my vehicle. When that occurs, I move slightly to the right and slow down until my visual field is clear again.
Being out in this weather is something you don't want to do. Children belong at home.
Minneapolis is calling this a deadly cold. It is. Make no doubt about this. It is a deadly cold. If anyone gets lost while traveling, don't continue. Find a local resource, gas station, police station, hospital and find out where you are. Don't think your way out of this. It is not possible.
When seeking shelter don't be afraid to say, "I am very scared of this weather, I need to come in from the cold." Any emergency worker or police would understand that. But, use the language. Don't pretend and don't be a hero.
Lake Michigan will probably freeze across completely again this year. The shoreline of the bays are already freezing. There are some waves slapping against the ice at the shoreline, but, for the wind, the waves are not that high. Similar wind occurred during the summer and governments had to put up small craft warnings and close beaches because the waves were so strong and tall.
The last time Lake Superior froze was 2003.
Lake Superior (click here) is almost completely frozen over this winter—a rare occurrence. This recent Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from March 12, 2003, shows the lake’s icy blanket.
The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS’ maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters.
This is what frozen waves look like
Ice — to infinity and beyond. Lake Michigan was frozen from shore to shore in February 1963. This photo was shot in January 1963, while there was still what appears to be a seam of open water on the horizon.
...Ice cover on Lake Erie (click here) is not uncommon, since it is the shallowest of all the lakes, but the big lakes—Superior and Huron—rarely freeze completely over; the big freeze has interrupted shipping and ferry lanes in the region. Ice experts from the Canadian Ice Service were quoted in media reports as saying it may be April before the ice thaws completely....
Don't leave the homeless out there. They've never experienced this amount of cold.
A steam grate in Washington.
This is what frozen waves look like
Ice — to infinity and beyond. Lake Michigan was frozen from shore to shore in February 1963. This photo was shot in January 1963, while there was still what appears to be a seam of open water on the horizon.
...Ice cover on Lake Erie (click here) is not uncommon, since it is the shallowest of all the lakes, but the big lakes—Superior and Huron—rarely freeze completely over; the big freeze has interrupted shipping and ferry lanes in the region. Ice experts from the Canadian Ice Service were quoted in media reports as saying it may be April before the ice thaws completely....
Don't leave the homeless out there. They've never experienced this amount of cold.
A steam grate in Washington.
