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| Freeze warnings issued as vast area of US gripped by Arctic chill | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Severe cold gripped much of the US as 2018 began, breaking century-old records and leading to several deaths that authorities attributed to exposure to the dangerously low temperatures. | Severe cold gripped much of the US as 2018 began, breaking century-old records and leading to several deaths that authorities attributed to exposure to the dangerously low temperatures. |
| The National Weather Service issued wind chill advisories and freeze warnings on Tuesday covering a vast area from south Texas to Canada and from Montana through New England. Authorities opened warming shelters in the south as temperatures dipped notably close to zero in Alabama and Georgia. | The National Weather Service issued wind chill advisories and freeze warnings on Tuesday covering a vast area from south Texas to Canada and from Montana through New England. Authorities opened warming shelters in the south as temperatures dipped notably close to zero in Alabama and Georgia. |
| The bitter cold wave enveloped much of the midwest on Monday, yet that did not deter hundreds of people from ringing in the new year by jumping into Lake Michigan. Throngs of people took part in the Polar Plunge in Milwaukee, despite sub-freezing temperatures and a warning of potential hypothermia from the local fire chief. Organizers canceled a similar event on the Chicago lakefront, after the temperature there dipped below zero and thick white steam rose from the lake. Organizers said the Arctic blast made jumping into the lake too dangerous. | The bitter cold wave enveloped much of the midwest on Monday, yet that did not deter hundreds of people from ringing in the new year by jumping into Lake Michigan. Throngs of people took part in the Polar Plunge in Milwaukee, despite sub-freezing temperatures and a warning of potential hypothermia from the local fire chief. Organizers canceled a similar event on the Chicago lakefront, after the temperature there dipped below zero and thick white steam rose from the lake. Organizers said the Arctic blast made jumping into the lake too dangerous. |
| Temperatures plunged below zero elsewhere in the midwest, including in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where the mercury dropped to a record-breaking minus 32F (-36C). The city’s previous New Year’s Day record had stood for 99 years. | Temperatures plunged below zero elsewhere in the midwest, including in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where the mercury dropped to a record-breaking minus 32F (-36C). The city’s previous New Year’s Day record had stood for 99 years. |
| In Nebraska, temperatures hit 15 below zero (-26C) before midnight on Sunday in Omaha, breaking a record low dating to 1884. Omaha officials cited the forecast in postponing the 18th annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular that draws about 30,000 people. | In Nebraska, temperatures hit 15 below zero (-26C) before midnight on Sunday in Omaha, breaking a record low dating to 1884. Omaha officials cited the forecast in postponing the 18th annual New Year’s Eve Fireworks Spectacular that draws about 30,000 people. |
| It was colder in Des Moines, Iowa, where city officials closed a downtown outdoor ice skating plaza and said it would not reopen until the city emerged from sub-zero temperatures. The temperature hit 20 below zero (-29C) early on Monday, with the wind chill dipping to negative 31F (-35C). | It was colder in Des Moines, Iowa, where city officials closed a downtown outdoor ice skating plaza and said it would not reopen until the city emerged from sub-zero temperatures. The temperature hit 20 below zero (-29C) early on Monday, with the wind chill dipping to negative 31F (-35C). |
| The weather service says that early morning temperatures on Tuesday in Indianapolis tied a record low of minus 12F (-24C) for 2 January set in 1887. Indianapolis Public Schools canceled classes for Tuesday on all its campuses due to the predicted sub-zero temperatures. Students had been scheduled to return from winter break. | The weather service says that early morning temperatures on Tuesday in Indianapolis tied a record low of minus 12F (-24C) for 2 January set in 1887. Indianapolis Public Schools canceled classes for Tuesday on all its campuses due to the predicted sub-zero temperatures. Students had been scheduled to return from winter break. |
| In north-eastern Montana, the wind chill readings dipped as low as minus 58F (-50C). And in Duluth, Minnesota, a city known for its bitter cold winters, the wind chill dipped to 36 below zero (-38C). | In north-eastern Montana, the wind chill readings dipped as low as minus 58F (-50C). And in Duluth, Minnesota, a city known for its bitter cold winters, the wind chill dipped to 36 below zero (-38C). |
| Plunging overnight temperatures in Texas brought rare snow flurries as far south as Austin, and accidents racked up on icy roads across the state. In the central Texas city of Abilene, the local police chief said more than three dozen vehicle crashes were reported in 24 hours. | Plunging overnight temperatures in Texas brought rare snow flurries as far south as Austin, and accidents racked up on icy roads across the state. In the central Texas city of Abilene, the local police chief said more than three dozen vehicle crashes were reported in 24 hours. |
| It was even cold in the deep south, as temperatures plummeted early on Tuesday to 14F (-10C) in Atlanta and 26F (-3C) as far south as New Orleans. Temperatures fell to 8F near Cullman, Alabama, and 20F in Mobile, Alabama. Georgia saw one of its coldest temperatures of the winter: 2F shortly before dawn at a US Forest Service weather station at Toccoa, Georgia. Warming shelters were opened across the south as freeze watches and warnings blanketed the region, including hard freeze warnings for much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. | It was even cold in the deep south, as temperatures plummeted early on Tuesday to 14F (-10C) in Atlanta and 26F (-3C) as far south as New Orleans. Temperatures fell to 8F near Cullman, Alabama, and 20F in Mobile, Alabama. Georgia saw one of its coldest temperatures of the winter: 2F shortly before dawn at a US Forest Service weather station at Toccoa, Georgia. Warming shelters were opened across the south as freeze watches and warnings blanketed the region, including hard freeze warnings for much of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. |
| The cold has been attributed in at least eight deaths in the past week. Most recently, sheriff’s officials in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, said a 27-year-old woman whose body was found on Monday evening on the shore of Lake Winnebago probably died of exposure. The Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office said two men whose bodies were found on Sunday showed signs of hypothermia. Police believe the cold weather also may have been a factor in the death of a man in Bismarck, North Dakota, whose body was found near a river. | The cold has been attributed in at least eight deaths in the past week. Most recently, sheriff’s officials in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, said a 27-year-old woman whose body was found on Monday evening on the shore of Lake Winnebago probably died of exposure. The Milwaukee County medical examiner’s office said two men whose bodies were found on Sunday showed signs of hypothermia. Police believe the cold weather also may have been a factor in the death of a man in Bismarck, North Dakota, whose body was found near a river. |