US, Europe & Australia grappling with extreme weather

World Today

US, Europe & Australia grappling with extreme weather

Bitterly cold weather is slowly moving out of the Midwestern United States toward the East coast. At least 21 deaths are blamed on a polar vortex that plunged temperatures well below zero this week. 

And it’s not just the United States that’s dealing with extreme weather.  CGTN’s Sean Callebs has details.

It’s been a brutally cold week across much of the United States. Chicago’s majestic skyline literally appearing to be frozen in time along the fog-draped Lake Michigan with temperatures pushing -40, or -50 with the wind chill factor.

“My nose hairs, eyes, everything that is moist is just really frozen,” said one woman walking down the street. “It feels like Antarctica right now,” laughs another.

Perhaps trying to chime in on the humor, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted earlier in the week, “In the beautiful Midwest temperatures are reaching -60 degrees the coldest ever recorded. In the coming days it is expected to get even colder people can’t last outside for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming.  Please come back fast, we need you.”

Donald J Trump on Twitter

With record cold in much of the U.K. and, a rare heavy snowfall in Paris, many climate scientists were not amused, pointing out there is a huge difference between “weather” and the world’s “climate”.

In search of hot weather, you need look no further than Australia, where it is summer. Record high temperatures have triggered damaging and dangerous wildfires.

There is drought, and in Adelaide, the temperature reached nearly 47 degrees Celsius (116 F), setting a record. Dry, brittle conditions are in the forecast.

“The threat is still very real, and will in fact increase over the next little while,” said Tasmanian State Premier Will Hodgman. “Conditions are expected to worsen.”

But back in the frozen tundra of the continental U.S., hot weather is a distant memory.

“I remember always being cold during the winter, but never close to this,” said Chicago resident Allison Stern. “It’s hard to take a breath in,” said Minnesota traveler Sandra Dixon.

Those shivering, from Minnesota to New York, where the world famous Niagara Falls are frozen stiff, can soon breathe a bit easier. 

A dramatic change in conditions, much warmer weather, is on the horizon, perhaps answering that question “Where is global warming?”

Andrea McGimsey on global extreme weather

CGTN’s Asieh Namdar talks with Andrea McGimsey with Environment America on the causes of the extreme cold in the U.S. & Europe, and the extreme heat in Australia.