Polar vortex brings record temperatures
Huge waves are beginning to batter the southern coast of the UK, as forecasters warn exposed areas could see a fresh round of flooding. Waves of up to 27ft (8m) have been recorded off Land’s End, Cornwall. In Aberystwyth, seafront student flats have been evacuated, and across the UK dozens of flood warnings – including one severe – remain in place.
Parts of the US are braced for potentially record-breaking low temperatures as a “polar vortex” brings more freezing weather. A winter storm has already blanketed areas of Canada and the north-eastern US with up to 2ft (60 cm) of snow. It has been blamed for 16 deaths in recent days and the cancellation of some 3,700 flights over the weekend.
Polar Vortex Takes Aim On United States With Dangerous Lift-Threatening Temperatures
The temperature predictions are startling: 25 below zero in Fargo, N.D., minus 31 in International Falls, Minn., and 15 below in Indianapolis and Chicago. At those temperatures, exposed skin can get frostbitten in minutes and hypothermia can quickly set in because wind chills could hit 50, 60 or even 70 below zero. Sunday’s playoff game in Green Bay could be among one of the coldest NFL games ever played. Temperatures at Lambeau Field are expected to be a frigid minus 2 degrees when the Packers and San Francisco 49ers kickoff, and by the fourth quarter it’ll be a bone-chilling minus 7, with wind chills approaching minus 30. Officials are warning fans to take extra safety measures to stay warm including dressing in layers and sipping warm drinks.