A Year Without Spring - Record Number Of Days At Zero Or Below In Chicago, The Coldest Winter Ever; Lake Michigan 90% Covered In Ice, Highest Ever Recorded; Washington D.C. Sets 141-Year Record Low Temperature; New Orleans Endures One Of The Coldest Mardi Gras Ever; Low Temperature From 1884 Among Shattered State Record In Iowa; And Atlantic City, New Jersey Registers Coldest March Temperature Since 1874!

UNITED STATES - Based on the following stories, 2014 is on track to be the coldest winter ever in the United States. Low temperatures have not been measured since the 1800s. In January, Chicago registered 37 hours of uninterrupted subzero temperatures and nearly a week of school closures. Is subzero temperatures the new normal? It certainly feels that way.

Record Number Of Days At Zero Or Below In Chicago, The Coldest Winter Ever

Ice forms along the shore of Lake Michigan as temperatures hovered around -10 degrees on January 28, 2014
in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The unrelenting, bitter winter of 2013-14 is by one measure the coldest season in the history of Chicago.

This winter, there have been 26 days in which the low temperature was zero or below.

There were 25 subzero days in 1884-85, but no days at zero. In 2013-14, the low has dipped below zero 23 times, including 16 below on Jan 6, which set a record for that day.

The total below zero days ranks No. 4 all-time. There were two seasons–1935-36 and 1962-63–that had 24 below zero days.

The chances of seeing another day below zero in the next seven days is unlikely.

There have been a few days in mid- to late-March that have been sub-zero, but historically they are rare.

The average temperature for this season is near 19 degrees, the third coldest since records have been kept, starting in the 1800s.

The record is 18.3 degrees set in 1904.

A total of 90 percent of Lake Michigan is covered in ice, equaling the highest level ever. - CBS Chicago.

Lake Michigan 90% Covered In Ice, Highest Ever Recorded

(Credit: NOAA)

After having a meltdown early last week, Lake Michigan is now just over 90 percent covered in ice, which equals the highest levels ever recorded.

The lake was also just over 90 percent frozen in 1976, 1979 and 1994, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. 

The unyielding cold weather has caused the ice on Lake Michigan to continue to expand the last several days.

(Credit: NOAA)

The below high-resolution visible satellite image from March 2 shows widespread ice cover over central Lake Michigan.

A small area of open water remained on the eastern side of the lake, well away from the Michigan shore.

After reaching 80 percent coverage in mid-February, the lake melted during the brief warm up two weeks ago and was down to 40 percent as seen in this Feb. 26 image:

Satellite image of ice coverage on Lake Michigan on Feb. 26, 2014. (Credit: NOAA)

Last week, forecasters predicted the past several days of cold weather would increase coverage by around 15 percent.

Instead, it was more like 50 percent.

The record ice coverage for all five lakes was set in 1979 at nearly 95 percent.

In mid-February, the Great Lakes were nearly 90 percent covered in ice.

Last year, Lake Michigan was only 20 percent covered.

The average ice coverage is around 40 percent. 

- CBS Chicago.

Washington D.C. Sets 141-Year Record Low Temperature

The seemingly endless winter dumped a half a foot snow on the ground in parts of the South, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, and many areas Tuesday morning saw something even more unusual in March: a blast of arctic air that sent temperatures plummeting into the single digits.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport broke a 141-year-old record low temperature, reaching 4 degrees. The National Weather Service said the low reached early Tuesday broke a 5-degree record set on the day in 1873. It was also a record low for the month of March. Dulles International Airport - also outside Washington - tied a 1993 record for the month at -1 degree.

Both airports broke record lows two days in a row.

Schools and government offices along the East Coast were closed Tuesday or delayed opening. Virginia State Police said slickened roads were factors in three traffic deaths. And authorities in Maryland's Prince George's County said a 60-year-old woman died after shoveling snow there.

Blame it on a return of the "polar vortex."

"That is the buzzword this winter, the polar vortex. That cold air just kind of migrates around the poles and the extreme northern latitudes all the time," said Jim Lee, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va. "The jet stream enables that colder air to move down the East Coast."

Monday's snowstorm followed a pattern that's become routine. Schools and government offices were closed. Federal workers stayed home - the fourth weather-related shutdown this season. Young adults gathered on the sloppy, slushy National Mall for a semi-organized, afternoon snowball fight.

Tourists, who flock to the nation's capital 365 days a year, were seeking out whatever activities they could find.

The National Air and Space Museum was the only Smithsonian institution open, and it drew a crowd. Among the visitors were Russ Watters, 60, of St. Louis, and his 14-year-old son, Seth, who was touring Washington with his 8th-grade class.

"We're trying to find stuff that's open, so this is open," Watters said.

The storm had a major effect south of the Mason-Dixon line. Governors declared states of emergency in Virginia and Tennessee, where there were hundreds of traffic accidents and tens of thousands of power outages. Nearly 3,000 flights were canceled Monday.

In Falls Church, Va., daredevils took advantage of another snow day by sledding down a steep hill behind an elementary school. Maya Luera, 11, said she wouldn't be so happy in June, when the school year will be extended because there's been so much snow.

"I'm more of a summer person, so I'd rather have more free time in the summer than the winter," she said. - MyFoxDC.

New Orleans Endures One Of The Coldest Mardi Gras Ever

It was a cold, wet day for Mardi Gras participants in New Orleans Tuesday.

The high temperature hit 40 degrees for the Big Easy, more than 20 degrees below the date's average temperature of 69 degrees. It rests one degree above the coldest high temperature on record for a Mardi Gras, which was 39 degrees on Feb. 14, 1899.

In past years when Fat Tuesday fell on March 4, the temperature was typically in the 60s or even high 70s. The previous coldest high for the celebrations on this date was 56 degrees in 1939.

After a cold front brought a few showers and colder weather to New Orleans on Monday, rain made a quick return just in time for Mardi Gras celebrations.

Rain moved throughout the area Tuesday, starting off as some morning showers followed by a steadier rain in the afternoon.

This rain will continue into the evening before tapering off overnight, making for a wet day.

Not only did people in New Orleans have to endure the rainy weather, but also the chilly weather brought by the passage of Monday's cold front.

The rain looks to clear the area on Wednesday for those heading home or staying to celebrate an extra day with temperatures rebounding to near 60. - AccuWeather.

Low Temperature From 1884 Among Shattered State Record In Iowa

The temperature may not have dropped as low as the minus-12 degrees predicted Monday morning, but it fell far enough to break records set in 1884. Des Moines recorded a low of minus-7 early Monday, just barely beating the previous record low of minus-6 degrees, set on March 3, 1884.

Some other Iowa cities didn’t cut it so close. Waterloo plummeted to minus-19 degrees, down from a 1978 low of minus-6. Ottumwa hit minus-9 degrees. Its previous record low was minus-4, set in 2002.

Temperatures quickly started ticking up after the record-setting morning, and Des Moines is expected to be on the upper end of a 45-degree swing in temperature by Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Des Moines is expected to hit 28 degrees today, although wind chill values could drop as low as 0.

Central Iowa could also see snow late this afternoon and into the evening. Des Moines is expected to get less than one-half inch but other areas, including Mason City and Waterloo, could see up to 2 inches. - DesMoinesRegister.

Atlantic City, New Jersey Registers Coldest March Temperature Since 1874

The low temperature of 2 degrees above zero (-16.7c) at 1133 pm Monday evening March 3rd was a record not only for the date but also the entire month of March.

The previous record low for March 3 was 5 above zero (-15c) in 2009.

The previous all time low for the month of March was 3 above set on March 4 2009.

Official records for the Atlantic City area date back to 1874.

Also a record low daily minimum for Wilmington, Delaware…

The low temperature of 8 degrees (-13.3c)at 1120 pm Monday evening March 3rd was a new record for March 3rd.

The previous record for that date was 9 in 2009 and 1925.

Official records date back to 1894.

http://nws.noaa.gov/view/validprods.php?prod=rer&node=kphi 


- Ice Age Now.

ICE AGE NOW: Early-Week Polar Plunge Could Be Winter's Coldest - Brutal Cold Shuts Schools, Delays Travel In The U.S. Midwest; Wind Chill Values Sink To Historic Area Lows Of -45° In Chicago; As The Prolonged Cold Blast Worsens Propane Shortage Across Midwest!

January 27, 2014 - UNITED STATES - A blast of frigid air will grip most of the eastern two-thirds of the United States through Wednesday and could yield the lowest temperatures so far this winter in some communities.  The impending polar plunge will rival the frigid days from earlier this January for the coldest daytime highs and nighttime lows so far this winter. 

 Early-Week Polar Plunge Could Be Winter's Coldest

This does not include South Florida.  The arctic air first plunged into the Upper Midwest, northern Plains and northern Rockies on Sunday and is expected to continue pressing to the Gulf and Atlantic coasts through Tuesday.  The magnitude of this cold blast will be enough to produce a far-reaching threat of frostbite, hypothermia, frozen pipes and water main breaks.

Care should also be taken to ensure that livestock and other animals housed outdoors have adequate shelter.  Especially across the Midwest and Northeast, officials may decide to cancel or delay school due to the extreme cold. Some vehicles may struggle or fail to start.

While highs will be held to the 30s southward to the I-10 corridor, the Midwest and Northeast are bracing for the harshest conditions.  Minneapolis, Chicago and other communities in the Upper Midwest will endure two consecutive days of subzero highs on Monday through Tuesday. Overnight lows will drop to 20 below zero or lower from North Dakota to the western suburbs of Chicago.  Grand Forks, N.D., will bottom out at around 30 below zero.  Across the interior Northeast, high temperatures will be held to the single digits and teens on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Fargo, N.D., Des Moines, Iowa, Minneapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are on the list of cities that could rival their lowest temperatures of the season. For locations in the I-95 corridor of the Northeast, temperatures will stop short of breaching season lows but will still be painful to endure.

Biting winds will usher in frigid air, creating dramatically lower AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures.
Where snow covers the ground, the winds will worsen the situation for motorists by blowing and drifting the snow around. In the most extreme cases, there will be local ground blizzards. RealFeel® temperatures will be extremely dangerous across eastern North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. On Sunday night, RealFeel® temperatures dipped to 50 below zero in the town of Wadena, Minn.

Frostbite can develop in a matter of minutes on exposed skin during such intense cold. Along the leading edge of the invading cold air, an Alberta Clipper spread a few inches of snow from parts of the southern Appalachians to northern New England on Monday. While Detroit already set a January snow record, the clipper may cause other Midwestern cities to follow suit. The lake-effect snow machine will continue downwind of lakes Ontario, Michigan, Huron and Superior with locally heavy snow forecast. Most of Lake Erie is frozen, so minimal snowfall is forecast downwind of the water body.

Snow will also drop along the Front Range of the Rockies as the cold presses southward. Denver will have periods of snow into Monday evening that can deposit up to a few inches. The invading cold will and a developing storm will spread a swath of snow and ice across the I-10 and I-95 corridors in the South Tuesday into Wednesday. - AccuWeather.

Prolonged Cold Blast Worsens Propane Shortage Across Midwest

Mark Burger of Blackhawk Propane delivers propane to a farm house on Jan. 24, 2014 near Clinton, Wis.
A shortage of propane in the Midwest has caused prices to surge upwards to near $5
a gallon in some markets.  Scott Olson/Getty Images

America’s chronic cold is creating a significant propane shortage across the Midwest — leading Wisconsin to become the latest state to declare an energy emergency in advance of more arctic air blasting eastward this week. Some 14 million Americans who rely on that type of fuel have been shelling out more and more to heat their homes while the strong demand has outpaced the already-low inventories, energy officials say.  Twenty-four states, including Ohio, Illinois and Alabama, have already declared energy emergencies — which helps to loosen transportation rules so that out-of-state truckers can drive longer hours to make needed propane deliveries. 

“It’s not a permanent shortage and we won’t run out, but there are no avenues to deal with this shortage today other than a break in the weather,” Brandon Scholz, managing director of the Wisconsin Propane Gas Association, told Reuters. “We could be sitting in this situation to spring.”  Snow fell Sunday in parts of the upper Midwest, including Wisconsin, where the sub-zero overnight temperature is expected to hang around Monday and Tuesday, The Weather Channel reported.


WATCH: Frigid temperatures continue to grapple most of the country.

More than 275 flights were canceled in Chicago alone on Sunday morning, according to FlightAware.com. The city also plans to close public schools Monday in anticipation of below zero and a minus-25 degree windchill.  The lingering cold snap prompted Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to put all state agencies on emergency alert late Saturday.  “The health and safety of our citizens is our No. 1 priority, and this declaration gives us the necessary resources to protect the residents of Wisconsin,” Walker said in a statement.   His office said the short supply of propane was caused by record-breaking cold temperatures as well as production loss when a major pipeline supplying the fuel to parts of the Midwest was temporarily closed for maintenance last fall.  About 250,000 Wisconsinites rely on propane as a source for heat.  Most households are not connected directly to propane pipelines, and the system relies heavily on truck fleets now running at full capacity to get emergency supplies to states across the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast.  A spokesman for Pennsylvania-based AmeriGas, the largest U.S. propane retailer, said last week it was rationing deliveries to “small pockets” of Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, reducing supplies to 100 gallons per customer from the standard delivery of some 250 gallons.

The westbound Interstate 696 is closed at Groesbeck Highway due to numerous accidents, on Sunday,
Jan. 26, in Roseville, Mich. Robin Buckson / Detroit News via AP

“Supply is very tight. There is propane to be had out there, but there are supply and transport issues across the country,” spokesman Simon Bowman said.  All the while, federal policymakers representing the Midwest have heard complaints from constituents angry about high fuel prices.  On Friday, propane heading for the Midwest changed hands at $4.30 a gallon — more than double its price a week earlier — although it had traded even higher at close to $5 a gallon on Thursday.  Meanwhile, natural gas users in parts of the Midwest are feeling a similar strain after a natural gas pipeline south of Winnipeg, Canada, exploded early Saturday, reported NBC affiliate WEAU in Eau Claire, Wis.  Utilities, including Xcel Energy and Minnesota Energy Resources, are asking more than 100,000 customers to turn down their thermostats or use alternate heating fuels as a precaution to overloading the system.  

Xcel, which has customers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota, said in a statement that natural gas supplies “currently are adequate.” But officials couldn’t immediately say when service would return to normal.  No one was hurt in the pipeline blast, and Canadian officials said they were still determining the cause. TransCanada Corp., which operates the pipeline that exploded, didn’t immediately return a request for comment Sunday.  The request for customers to watch their natural gas usage comes as more dangerous cold is hitting the Plains, Midwest and Northeast, and is expected to stick around through the end of the month.  Forecasters warn that sub-zero temperatures will be fixtures in cities such as Chicago and Milwaukee for the next couple of days, while the Northeast, including Philadelphia and Boston, will struggle to stay above the teens and 20s.  Central Michigan mom Julie Palmer was happy to take her kids to an outdoor Winter Wonderland festival outside Lansing this weekend. But she told NBC affiliate WILX that she is no fan of this winter.  “It’s been horrible, miserable, cold,” she said. “We’re ready for spring.” - NBC News.

Brutal Cold Shuts Schools, Delays Travel In Midwest

Pedestrians make their way past vacant benches in snowy Lafayette Park in front of the White House in
Washington January 27, 2014. Slightly warmer temperatures today provided the nation's capital a brief
respite from a recent cold snap. Cold weather is forecast to return by the end of the day.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY)

Bitter cold and high winds surging down from the Arctic pushed wind chills to dangerous lows across the U.S. upper Midwest on Monday, forcing officials to close schools and warn drivers off roads, and slowing public transit and river traffic.  Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and other parts of the upper Midwest are forecast to have two consecutive days of subzero highs on Monday and Tuesday, while most of the Northeast will see highs in the single digits and teens on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Accuweather.com.  National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Krein blamed the weather on a surge of arctic high pressure out of Canada that has spread over the upper Midwest and central plains. 

Even weather-hardy Midwesterners expressed weariness on Monday with the sub-zero cold snap, the second this month.  "I'm real sick of it," said Romik Stewart, 20, who was waiting for a bus in Milwaukee to go to his job at a fast food restaurant. "I've had enough of this already. It's too much."  Officials closed schools in Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati and the Cleveland area and in most districts across Minnesota on Monday due to the biting cold. Chicago and Milwaukee public schools also will be closed Tuesday, as will the Indianapolis city government.  The frigid temperatures also are causing ice to accumulate on the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, slowing the movement of grain barges to the U.S. Gulf, according to Drew Lerner, a meteorologist at World Weather Inc.  "I'm very ready for the spring," said 18-year-old Caroline Burns, a student at Marquette University in Milwaukee, as she walked from her residence hall to class.  Nearly 900 flights have been canceled within, into and out of the United States on Monday, according to FlightAware.com, which tracks flights.  

Even the south is seeing extremes this week.  Wind gusts of up to 35 mph knocked down power lines in the Dallas-Forth Worth area in Texas and temperatures were expected to fall into the 20s overnight from highs in the 60s and 70s over the weekend, the weather service said.  Galveston, Texas, public schools and most schools in New Orleans will be closed on Tuesday due to winter weather, according to officials and media reports.  Heavy snow was expected starting on Tuesday across eastern North Carolina, while coastal South Carolina will get rare ice accumulation with some snow and temperatures below freezing on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.  In Alaska, the roughly 4,000 residents of Valdez remained cut off to road traffic from the rest of the state Monday after weekend avalanches blocked the road into and out of the coastal town, officials said. - Yahoo.

Wind Chill Values Sink To Historic Area Lows Of -45° In Chicago

They're baaack!  Another cold weather system has ushered in below-zero temperatures and dangerous wind chills, three weeks after the frigid weather phenomenon broke Chicago's record low, for that time period, of -16 degrees.  Temperatures won't be quite as low this time around, but they could come close.  The Arctic air arrived Monday morning and forecast highs will dip below zero degrees for both Monday and Tuesday. Nighttime lows could dip as far as -25 degrees in some areas, with wind chill values sinking to -45.  Early-morning temps Tuesday are expected to be the coldest of the week.  Nearly all of the metropolitan area will be under a Wind Chill Warning from early Monday morning to Wednesday morning.  Several schools were reporting closures for Monday, including Chicago Public Schools.

Historic area lows for Jan. 27 are -10 degrees in Chicago and -13 in Rockford. Records for Jan. 28 sit at -13 in Chicago and -22 in Rockford.  Chicago's average temperature for the winter season so far sits at 20.3 degrees, making it the 13th coldest winter since 1872, according to the National Weather Service. But it could move up in the rankings after this week's cold spell.  Accumulating snow fell overnight Sunday as residents braced for the latest round of dangerously cold temperatures.  Snowfall totals ranged from 2 to 4 inches of snow in some areas by Sunday morning.  A Winter Weather Warning was in effect from 3 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.  A late clipper Sunday evening brought another round of light snow to the area as temps began to fall and wind gusts picked up, causing blowing and drifting snow.

The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation deployed 200 snow plows and salt spreaders to main streets and Lake Shore Drive early Sunday morning. The department said its entire fleet was out by Sunday afternoon to assist with the blowing and drifting snow that was impacting road conditions. Metra issued a statement Friday morning warning of potential delays because of extremely cold temperatures and urged riders to allow extra time during the Monday morning commute.  "In the interest of safety, we will be operating at reduced speeds, if necessary, to reduce the stress on the rails," Metra officials said. "Cold weather often leads to slower boarding and we therefore expect station stops to be longer than usual."  Metra noted the last time the area saw this persistent combination of snow and cold was three decades ago, during the winter of 1983-84.

Metra engineering and maintenance staff will work 12 hour shifts on Monday, making sure critical switches are clear of snow and ice. Crews will also be in over the weekend to keep the train cars powered up.  Amtrak announced a modified schedule for Monday in preparation for bitter temperatures.  Illinois State Police issued a traffic alert Sunday afternoon due to hazardous road conditions in several counties.  Indiana drivers were being warned of hazardous conditions on the interstates in Northwest Indiana Saturday morning.  Road conditions, specifically for Interstate 80/94 and Interstate 65 throughout the Lowell State Police District, were "snow-packed, ice and blown over," officials said.  Indiana Department of Transportation crews were salting roads, but officials said the conditions have become "extremely challenging to keep up with."  Police were telling drivers to stay off the roads if possible, and to use caution, slow down and plan for travel delays.  The Illinois Department of Transportation issued a similar warning. - NBC Chicago.

MONUMENTAL EARTH CHANGES: Ice Age Now - Winter 2013 To Be The Longest In British HISTORY; Heavy Snow Could Fall Until MAY, Warn Forecasters; Truly UNPRECEDENTED!

November 24, 2013 - BRITAIN - BRITAIN is facing an unprecedented SIX MONTH winter with long-range forecasters warning relentless heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures could last until MAY. 

The entire UK has been told to brace for a record-breaking period of bitter Arctic winds, crippling snowfall and plunging temperatures.

Heavy snow and huge drifts will cause chaos for up to six months [APEX]

Long-range forecasts now point to winter 2013 now being the worst for more than 60 years with Polar conditions stretching right into the beginning of next spring.

The shock warning comes with the UK already shivering in an unseasonably early big freeze with temperatures plummeting to -5C and heavy snow sparking chaos in parts of the UK.

It has also sparked fears that the extreme cold expected this winter could kill far more vulnerable people than usual, especially as millions turn down their heating in the wake of huge energy price rises.

Long range forecasts show that a high pressure ‘blocking system’ drawing cold air in from the Arctic will wreak havoc with our weather, generating prolonged spells colder than in  Iceland, Norway and Sweden and even parts of the Arctic region.

Drivers across the UK face a battle to beat the snow this winter [MASONS]

Britain is facing a relentless, long winter of heavy snow [PA]

Wintry scenes like this will dominate winter 2013 in Britain [NORTH NEWS]

Long-range forecaster James Madden, of Exacta Weather, said: “An exceptionally prolonged period of widespread cold is highly likely to develop throughout this winter and last into next spring.

“It will be accompanied by snow drifts of several feet and long-lasting snow accumulations on a widespread scale.

“This period of snow and cold is likely to result in an incomparable scenario to anything we have experienced in modern times.

“A scenario similar to December 2010 is likely to develop, but on a more prolonged scale in terms of overall duration.”

Jonathan Powell, forecaster for Vantage Weather Services, said this winter could now parallel hthe worst winters ever recorded.

He said: “Looking back at historical data there is certainly an argument that we may well parallel with severe winters of the past including 1947 and 1962.

“We have had such a cold November, and there is no sign of any change due to a high pressure blocking system.

“When these severe temperatures bed in it becomes like an accumulative effect - like a heatwave but in reverse, we could be looking at the longest winter in history.

The whole of Britain is facing a long whiteout and heavy snow this winter [PA]

Drivers have been warned to expect huge snow drifts throughout winter 2013 [CAVENDISH]

Train users face long delays because of heavy snow and ice [PA]

“And this is when you see records breaking, all signs point towards this winter being exceptionally severe, I wouldn’t put anything past it.”

As energy bills rocket, campaigners warn around 25,000 people could die of the cold - around 23 per cent more than during a Swedish winter.

Ed Matthew, director of the Energy Bill Revolution, said: “It is a national disgrace that thousands of people are dying unnecessarily every year, lives that could be saved by something as simple as better insulation.

“That more people die from the cold every year in temperate Britain than in freezing Sweden is an embarrassment and a tragedy.”

This winter has so far shown signs of delivering a repeat of 1962 when temperatures tumbled in mid-November and the first snow fell.

Southern England was hit by blizzards and London was buried under 12 inches of drifting snow with further downpours in January and February (Source: Netweather).

Devon and North East England were left under 2ft of snow and people were able  to walk on the tops of the frozen shrubbery.

This winter could also be a carbon copy of 1947, the snowiest in history with showers in March leading to seven-metre high drifts.

The worst winter since 1814 there was continuos snowfall from January 22 to March 17 (Source: Netweather) with seven inches falling in South West England and the Scilly Isles in January.

In early March there was a blizzard in England and Wales, with 1ft widely, and 5ft over high ground. Flooding was also a problem as rain ran off frozen ground in torrents leading to widespread chaos on the roads.

Highland cattle face months of freezing Arctic winds and heavy snow [PACEMAKER PRESS]

Some British animals are already getting ready for the snow... [PA]

...while others, like this robin, were born ready [GETTY]

The lack of power supplies became so critical that at one point radio and TV broadcasts were suspended, magazines were ordered to stop being published and many newspapers were forced to cut their size.

Mr Powell added: “The worst of the weather is likely to arrive in January - this is when the real trouble is likely to start.

“So far, we have seen an early taste of what this winter could have to offer, and it is only November,  late December into next year looks shocking.

“And there is every possibility this could be the picture right through until May and even into spring, we could see one of the longest winters in history.”

The Met Office said clear skies and persistent high pressure over the weekend and into next week will keep minimum temperatures below average for the time of year.

Forecaster Dan Williams said: “It is going to turn more settled and resulting clear skies mean there is more heat loss, keeping things cooler than average.

“It is a cold picture for the rest of the week, and there could be the risk of fog." - Express.

ICE AGE NOW: Chile Hit With Worst Cold Spell In 80 Years - State Of Emergency Declared In Its Agricultural Sector; 50 MILLION Boxes Of Fruit Damaged!

October 27, 2013 - CHILE - Anyone looking to get some delicious Chilean fruit this winter is going to be disappointed, as the worst frost in more than 80 years has damaged 50 million boxes of fruit exports — causing the country to declare a state of emergency in its agricultural sector.

The Chilean Fresh Fruit Exporters Association said that freezing temperatures throughout mid-September hit the country’s fruit growers with the coldest frost since 1929. Temperatures fell to an average of 19 degrees Fahrenheit for an average of seven hours in several of the Chile’s growing regions, contributing to a huge drop-off in fruit exports.

Chilean growers exported about 282 million boxes of fruit last year, and experts believe that exports will fall short of that by about 50 million boxes for this year. However, when production increases are taken into account, the total frost damage to fruit production could be closer to 60 million or 65 million boxes.

The wine industry was hit hard by the frost as well.

Estimates put the total damage to Chilean crops at $1 billion. Reuters reports that between 35 percent and 61 percent of stone fruit crops were damaged, 57 percent of almonds, 48 percent of kiwis and 20 percent of grapes. The U.S. imports about 42 percent of the country’s grapes.

“These frosts are the worst that agriculture has faced in 84 years, impacting the area from Coquimbo to Bio Bio,” the National Agricultural Society said.

Because of the lost production, fruit prices are expected to rise.

“All throughout November, December and January, prices of peaches, nectarines and plums will be higher because there will be shortages,” said Cristián Allendes, president of the Federation Fruit Producers. ”There will be half the volume of a normal year, so it is impossible for them to cost the same.”


The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared September 2013 to have tied with September 2003 as the fourth warmest on record. Global surface and oceanic temperatures were 1.15 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average for that month.

However, September also brought with it record levels of arctic sea-ice coverage — only six years after the BBC reported that global warming would leave eliminate arctic sea ice by 2013.

Antarctica also experienced record levels of sea ice in September, with 7.51 million square miles surrounding the continent. This beat out the previous sea-ice coverage record, set in 2012. - Daily Caller.