(Thumbnail image: CNN)
Winter weather is making headlines across the Northern Hemisphere as arctic temperatures blanket the United States, and heavy snow brings the UK to a standstill. The media is questioning: Is this the worst cold snap in decades?
Florida declared a state of emergency as the deep freeze jeopardizes the state's lucrative citrus industry, over 500 flights were cancelled in Chicago, and wind chills as cold as negative 50 are expected across the Midwest.
A weather correspondent for CNN says that her map doesn’t even go that cold.
“The wind chills certainly dangerous. Look at the wind chill indices. That green that you see there, our wind chill chart, it’s off the charts. It’s not even plotting a temperature because we don’t go below 50. So apparently we need that this time around.”
WESH in Orlando says that the deep freeze is raising food and gas prices.
“From gas stations to grocery stores across central Florida higher prices are starting to set in as this cold streak lingers on… As for prices at the grocery store consumers are already seeing a difference… Orange Juice prices for example are the highest they have been in two years.”
In the UK heavy snow is slowing traffic, closing schools, and even derailed one train.
The Guardian reports that forecasters are expecting the coldest winter in 30 years for the UK.
Sky News looks at how the freezing weather and heavy snow is making life difficult for rural farmers.
“This was a journey through urban streets where people are struggling, to the countryside where they are stranded. Tell me Alec, how are you this morning? For the first time we are completely blocked… And for the sheep, on a farm, snow is danger. A grim job in this weather is to pluck the snow for buried sheep. They huddle next to the dyke for shelter and can get trapped in the snowdrift and die. As we filmed Alec found one alive, a lamb that was lost and is now back with the flock.”
So what do you think of this latest blast of winter? Is it the worst in decades—or just winter as usual? And how has the cold affected you?
Writer: Charlie McKeague
Producer: Nathan Giannini
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