Australia Sizzles; Arctic Plunge Pummels U.S Again

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Category: Earth, Air, Space Science

Published on Wednesday, 22 January 2014 17:10

Written by Janet Walker

The United States is entering its second polar vortex in as many weeks as record low temps are set to move in, beginning tonight and lasting five days, 2014 is shaping up to be the coldest winter in history.

From Maine to Manhattan to Minnesota winter weary Americans are digging out, thawing out and keeping out of the deep cold that is sending temperatures plummeting and forcing frigid air as deep as the gulf of Mexico.

Winter Advisories are being issued across the United States as many states experience a second blast of winter’s bitter glacial freeze with wind gusts that can result in serious injury and frostbite in seconds.

Flash frostbite freeze can happen quickly when extremities are not properly protected. Experts warn all to dress appropriately and exercise caution when facing the wintery weather.

As Americans are bundling up, Australia, our mates down under, are stripping down and heading to the beaches as sizzling record temperatures from an historic heat wave send numbers shooting into the triple digits.

Sydney and Melbourne, located on the south east coast, were fortunate to have cool coastal breezes creating a barrier between the scorching heat that blistered parts of the interior.

With a high of 123 F expected, Queensland and New South Wales, located in Western Australia, are seeing temperatures that shattered the hottest summer on record.  

“The heat-wave began on December 27 in eastern Western Australia and spread slowly north and east, setting records at 34 sites where data has been collected for at least 40 years,” reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

Temperatures, from record double digits lows to triple digits highs, are shattering around the globe as extreme conditions create weather emergencies and cause everyman to wonder if meteorologists can shed any wisdom on the reason.