Millions of Americans face below-zero temperatures as storms bring blast of Arctic air, snow and ice
Subfreezing temperatures blasting much of the U.S. have put millions of Americans at risk of potentially dangerous cold as winter storms have left four dead and continue to dump snow from coast to coast.
Spring break begins as tourists hit Miami Beach to escape the cold
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Tourists are flocking to Miami Beach to escape the cold back home. We left when it had snow everywhere,” said Eddie Dobyns, who was visiting with family from Baltimore. “We got here the weather was perfect.”Monday marks the beginning of a series of enhanced safety measures during the city’s “High Impact Period” from Feb. 22 through April 12. The measures are “necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of residents and visitors,” according to a city news release. “If you’re coming here because you think it’s an anything-goes place, please turn around or go somewhere else,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber told Local 10 News.
In Athens, rare snow blankets Acropolis, halts vaccinations
Snow covers the ancient Acropolis hill in Athens, Tuesday, Feb.16, 2021. The snow, an unusual sight in the Greek capital of more than 3 million residents, also stopped most public transport services. The snow arrived as Athens and several other parts of Greece remain in lockdown to curb coronavirus infections. In neighboring Turkey, heavy snow and blizzards forced the closure of a highway in northwest Turkey. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with emergency response leaders to assist residents in blacked-out areas and villages cut off by the snow.
Officials: 2 dead in Texas as subfreezing cold sweeps US
State officials said surging demand, driven by people trying to keep their homes warm, and cold weather knocking some power stations offline had pushed Texas' system beyond the limits. “This event was well beyond the design parameters for a typical, or even an extreme, Texas winter that you would normally plan for. At DFW, the temperature was 4 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius) — 3 degrees (-16 degrees) colder than Moscow. In Houston, officials said Bush Intercontinental Airport runways would remain closed until at least 1 p.m. Tuesday, a day longer than previously expected. The southern Plains had been gearing up for the winter weather for the better part of the weekend.
Wintry weather blanketing US making rare dip to Gulf Coast
"Typically, we just don’t have quite this much cold air in place that far south,” said Marc Chenard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center. AdChenard said significant ice and up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of snow were expected across parts of the southern Plains into Monday. Winter weather conditions are affecting large portions of the U.S., but it is rare for them to extend so far south, Chenard said. The airline said the storm was also affecting their flights across the region, with operations reduced and canceled at airports across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Utilities warned of the likelihood for additional power outages due to falling tree limbs.
Dutch will extend coronavirus curfew until March 3
Snow covers a houseboat in Amsterdam, as snow and strong winds blanketed much of the Netherlands, Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)THE HAGUE – The Dutch government announced Monday it is extending the country's curfew until March 3, declaring that was necessary to slow the spread of the more infectious coronavirus variant first detected in Britain. The country's 9 p.m.-to-4:30 a.m. curfew was introduced Jan. 23 and triggered days of riots in towns and cities across the Netherlands. However, the unrest has since subsided and the vast majority of residents adhere to the curfew. Last week, Prime Minister Mark Rutte extended most of the country's tough lockdown measures, already in force since mid-December, until March 2.
Heavy snowstorm pounds Germany, upends travel
(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)BERLIN – A snowstorm and strong winds pounded northern and western Germany on Sunday, forcing trains to cancel trips and leading to hundreds of vehicle crashes. The German Weather Service DWD urged people to stay at home and authorities brought homeless people into warm shelters amid the sub-freezing temperatures. AdThe Bundesliga soccer game between Arminia Bielefeld and Werder Bremen was called off hours before kickoff Sunday because of the snowstorm. In Wuppertal, in western Germany, firefighters had to rescue six passengers out of the city's famous elevated railway after a train stopped moving due to the icy conditions. AdIn the Netherlands, snow blanketed much of the country, forcing the government to cancel a weekly crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.
The Latest: Wet snow turns to sleet in northern New England
A sprawling, lumbering winter storm has walloped the Eastern U.S., shutting down coronavirus vaccination sites, closing schools and halting transit. In its second day in the Northeast, a snow storm left nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in parts of New Hampshire. The Yale New Haven Health system, which runs several hospitals in southern Connecticut, said its vaccination sites were closed Tuesday and staff were contacting people to reschedule appointments. In New England, nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in southeast New Hampshire, and the mountains were getting heavy snow as well. The National Weather Service reported 30 inches of snow fell in parts of Sussex and Morris counties on Monday.
Vaccinations resume as not-quite-historic snowstorm fades
Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeastern U.S. are getting back up and running after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in New York City remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)Coronavirus vaccination sites across the Northeast ramped back up Tuesday after a two-day snowstorm that also shut down public transport, closed schools and stranded travelers with canceled flights. Some vaccination sites in the city remained closed, but others, including those run by the public hospital system, were open Tuesday. Tom Wolf declared a disaster emergency after snowfall of up to 30 inches (76 centimeters) throughout central and eastern regions.
Major storm heads to Northeast after blanketing Midwest
"Rosie" runs in the snow on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Washington. It was already impacting coronavirus vaccinations in New York and New Jersey, with appointments for Monday needing to be canceled and rescheduled. The storm system blanketed parts of the Midwest in the most snow some places had seen in several years. In Wisconsin, snow depths in some counties near Lake Michigan had reached more than 15 inches (38 centimeters), and the snow was still falling. Much of the region could see blizzard-like conditions, with a foot to 18 inches (30 to 45 centimeters) of snow.
Freezing temps bring Europe traffic chaos, smog, avalanche
In Switzerland, a skier who had been buried by an avalanche over the weekend died in a hospital of his injuries, authorities said Monday. Temperatures dropped to minus 28 degrees Celsius (minus 18 Fahrenheit) in some Polish areas overnight, the coldest night in 11 years. Just across Poland's southwestern border, the Czech Republic experienced the coldest night this year with temperatures dropping below minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) in many places. In eastern Albania, temperatures dipped as low as minus 13 degrees Celsius (9 Fahrenheit) in Peshkopi, 110 kilometers (70 miles) east of the capital, Tirana. The Nordic region also saw snow and subfreezing temperatures, with the coldest temperatures predictably recorded in the Arctic.
'Unbelievable' snowfall blankets parts of the Northeast
“If you do not have to be on the roads, please don't travel,” said New York Gov. “This is the fastest rate of snowfall I've ever encountered,” he said. Boston had more than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of snow early Thursday morning, breaking the previous record for the date of 6.4 inches (16.3 centimeters) in 2013. Parts of northern New England saw as much as 7 inches (18 centimeters) of snow per hour, said Margaret Curtis, meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Snow totals topped 3 feet across a wide swath of New Hampshire, and Maine's southernmost county saw 1 to 2 feet.
Halloween in the pandemic: Costumes and candy, at a distance
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)Ghosts, skeletons, princesses and black cats roamed the streets as usual this Halloween, but they kept their distance, wore face coverings and carried hand sanitizer in their quest for treats. Like with everything else this year, the pandemic also left its mark on Halloween. Parades, parties and haunted houses were canceled due to bans on large gatherings and concerns that spooky celebrations could spread the coronavirus. In the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Tomeka Ray took her 4-year-old daughter, Diamond, trick-or-treating in the afternoon. Caden Korchuk, 11, and friend Jayden Schoning, 10, both dressed as skeletons, also appreciated getting their candy delivered from a distance.
Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee top Billboard Latin Music Awards
Bad Bunny, left, accepts the award for social artist of the year at the Billboard Latin Music Awards on April 25, 2019, in Las Vegas and Daddy Yankee accepts the award for favorite male artist at the Latin American Music Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Oct. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles. Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee triumphed at the Billboard Latin Music Awards Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020, claiming seven trophies apiece at the pandemic-delayed show. (AP Photo)SUNRISE, Fla. – Bad Bunny and Daddy Yankee triumphed at the Billboard Latin Music Awards Wednesday, claiming seven trophies apiece at the pandemic-delayed show. Daddy Yankee won six of his awards for his hit “Con Calma,” which featured the 1990s artist Snow. His honors included the hot Latin song aware, and song of the year honors for streaming and airplay and digital platforms.
Megan Thee Stallion says she was shot, expects to recover
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. She did not say who shot her or why, and Los Angeles police had no immediate comment. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
Megan Thee Stallion says she was shot, expects to recover
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019 file photo, Megan Thee Stallion arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in Newark, N.J.. The rapper says she was shot multiple times, but expects to fully recover. The 25-year-old said in an Instagram post Wednesday that she had gunshot wounds from a crime committed against her Sunday with the intent to harm her and feels lucky to be alive. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)LOS ANGELES – Rapper Megan Thee Stallion said Wednesday that she was shot multiple times on Sunday, but expects to fully recover. He had no comment on Pete's Instagram post, but said it has been pointed out to the detectives in the case, who are looking into it.
Despite drama, Megan Thee Stallion happy to release music
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2019, file photo, Megan Thee Stallion performs at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The singer says she works extremely hard in the studio when it comes to writing music, so when she almost couldnt release her new album due to drama with her record label, she was anxious and uneasy. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)NEW YORK, N.Y. – Megan Thee Stallion says she works extremely hard in the studio writing music, and so became more than a little worried when she almost couldn’t release her new album because of a dispute with her record label. Stallion accused the label of not sharing data on her music sales with her management. Stallion said she’s happy she decided to sign with Roc Nation to help manage her growing career.
A rare October snowstorm blankets the Texas Panhandle
AMARILLO, Texas (CNN) - Heavy snow fell in parts of the Texas Panhandle on Thursday, causing near whiteout conditions in Amarillo, according to the National Weather Service. Residents posted videos of the rare October snow storm on social media that show their fall decorations and pumpkins covered in white flakes. The preliminary snow reports show that 4 inches of snow fell five miles west of Amarillo, according to the NWS. People weren't the only ones going outside and enjoying the rare storm; a pup named Maggie ran around her backyard in Amarillo and dug her nose in the fresh snowfall. The Panhandle will continue to get snow throughout the evening, but it should wind down by midnight, according to Ward.
New 'Hunger Games' book finally has a name
Hunger75 via Wikimedia Commons(CNN) - Best-selling author Suzanne Collins is returning to the world of "The Hunger Games" in a new novel set long before arrow-slinging hero Katniss Everdeen matched wits with the ruthless President Snow. It had been known as the "Untitled Panem Novel" after the fictional country where the story takes place. The first English printing will be 2.5 million copies and Scholastic says it has sold the translation rights for 28 other territories. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" takes place 64 years before the events of the original novel on the day tributes were chosen for the Tenth Hunger Games, according to Scholastic. The original "The Hunger Games" novel was on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 260 weeks and Scholastic says there are more than 100 million copies of all three books in the trilogy in print and digital formats worldwide.