On The Anniversary Of Katrina A Monster Hurricane Is Expected To Hit Lousianna Sunday

Hurricane Ida battered Cuba on Friday before it started to make its way into the Gulf of Mexico in a beeline toward Louisiana, where it's expected to hit as a Category 4 storm 

 

Daily Mail: Hurricane Ida batters Cuba as it makes a beeline for Louisiana where it's expected to hit as a Category 4 storm on the anniversary of deadly Hurricane Katrina 

* The storm hit Cuba with sustained winds of up to 80 miles per hour on Friday 

* Hurricane Ida has prompted evacuations of flood-prone New Orleans neighborhoods and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico 

* Ida first hit Cuba's small Isle of Youth, off the southwestern end of the Caribbean island nation, toppling trees and tearing roofs from buildings 

* The storm made its way towards the province of Pinar del Rio on mainland Cuba where more than 10,000 people had been evacuated 

* There were no deaths or major reports of damage as of Friday night 

* The National Weather Service said it expects Hurricane Ida to intensify significantly before coming ashore as a major hurricane in Louisiana on Sunday 

Hurricane Ida battered Cuba on Friday before it started to make its way into the Gulf of Mexico in a beeline toward Louisiana, where it's expected to hit as a Category 4 storm on the anniversary of deadly Hurricane Katrina. 

The storm hit Cuba with roof-ripping force and sustained winds of up to 80 miles per hour on Friday, prompting evacuations of flood-prone New Orleans neighborhoods and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. 

Ida first hit Cuba's small Isle of Youth, off the southwestern end of the Caribbean island nation, toppling trees and tearing roofs from buildings soon after it was upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane. 

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The last thing that the Biden administration and the Gulf Coast needs right now is a monster hurricane devastating this part of America.

Report: The Collapse Of Wind Power Followed By Natural Gas Not Able To Make Up For The Shortfall Caused The Texas Grid To Collapse

Zero Hedge: Cascend: Data Shows Wind-Power Was Chief Culprit Of Texas Grid Collapse 

With the worst of the Texas power crisis now behind us, the blame and fingerpointing begins, and while the jury is still out whose actions (or lack thereof) may have led to the deadly and widespread blackouts that shocked Texas this week, Cascend Strategy writes that "in case there was any doubt why the Texas grid collapsed, the data is clear" 

 * Wind failed as “Ice storms knocked out nearly half the wind-power generating capacity of Texas on Sunday as a massive deep freeze across the state locked up wind turbine generators, creating an electricity generation crisis." 

 * Natural gas made up the difference for a while 

 * But then everything else followed down 

 Some more detail from Cascend which lays out the events of this week in sequence: 

 * A massive cold snap drove demand for electricity well beyond normal levels 

 * Wind power failed to deliver it’s expected power – almost 40% of expected power – in part due to lack of winterized wind turbines 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Cascend's recommendations are the following .... 

1) Winterize equipment 

2) Require power reserve 

3) Connect the Texas grid better 

4) Add solar with storage (storage is key) 

5) And add more natural gas 

I lived through the Quebec ice storm of 1998 (read my commentary here .... Texas Was "Seconds And Minutes" Away From A Catastrophic Months-Long Blackout). 

I concur with the above Cascend recommendation that Texas must spend money on winterizing their equipment, and connecting the grid better. We did it in Quebec, and we have fared (so far) quite well. 

As to the limits of wind-power. Canada has also learned how unreliable they can be in winter, and why they must be constructed to withstand harsh conditions like ice.

Is Extreme Weather A Security Threat For The U.S.?

Military vehicles from the Texas Military Department of the Texas National Guard, tasked to transport residents to designated warming centers and other required duties, form a convoy in Abilene, Texas, February 16, 2021. Greg Jaklewicz/Reporter-News/USA Today Network via REUTERS 

Daily Mail: Extreme weather 'will get worse' across the US and poses a SECURITY THREAT as experts warn that America's enemies will 'take advantage' of climate catastrophes 

 * In the past year, the U.S. has witnessed record-breaking wildfires, hurricanes and winter storms 

 * This week, millions of Texans were left without power in freezing temperatures after power plants were knocked offline in icy conditions 

 * Climate scientists believe extreme weather events will become more common and worsen in their intensity 

 * They say governments are currently unprepared to deal with such crises, and need to invest in large-scale storage systems for power 

 * Additionally, they claim officials need to build resilient infrastructure to properly protect citizens and military bases 

 * Experts say failure to do so is a security risk as 'there are enemies out there that will certainly take advantage' of vulnerabilities 

Deadly weather will be hitting the U.S. more often and the country faces security threats if it is not properly prepared for it, climate scientists have declared. 

The experts made the proclamation on Wednesday as Texas and other states battled winter storms that caused historic power outages, leaving millions of residents without heat or hot water in below freezing temperatures. 

'This definitely was an anomaly but one that is likely to occur more frequently as a result of climate change,' Sara Eftekharnejad, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Syracuse University, told the Associated Press. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The U.S. is not the only country that experiences extreme weather. From my experience of living in Russia, Ukraine, and now Canada .... extreme weather has always been the norm and not the exception. The key is to make sure your infrastructure is resilient to withstand these weather events. In the case of Texas ... they may have the infrastructure for hot weather, but they certainly do not have the infrastructure for the cold.

Texas Was "Seconds And Minutes" Away From A Catastrophic Months-Long Blackout

Texas was 'seconds and minutes' away from 'monthslong' power outages Bill Magness, pictured, the CEO of ERCOT said Thursday as he defended the grid's rolling blackouts 

Daily Mail: Texas was 'seconds' away from 'months-long' power outage, ERCOT's embattled CEO says, as grid operator defends rolling blackouts that cut electricity to millions 

 * A week of freezing temperatures knocked about a third of the state's generating capacity offline, resulting in the greatest forced blackout in U.S. history 

 * The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, operates the power grid that covers most of the state and was behind the decision to have rolling blackouts 

 * That left up to 4 million people enduring outages in subfreezing temperatures 

 * CEO Bill Magness said Thursday that if operators had not acted 'immediately' the state would have faced an 'indeterminately long' electricity crisis

 * He said: 'It was seconds and minutes [from possible failure]' Texas was 'seconds and minutes' away from 'months-long' power outages the embattled CEO of ERCOT said Thursday as he defended the grid's rolling blackouts. 

 A week of below-freezing temperatures knocked about a third of the state's generating capacity offline, resulting in the greatest forced blackout in U.S. history and exposing weaknesses of Texas' unique approach to power grid management. 

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, operates the power grid that covers most of the state and was behind the decision to have rolling blackouts which left up to 4 million people enduring outages in subfreezing temperatures. 

Read more .... 

Update: Texas was "seconds and minutes" away from catastrophic monthslong blackouts, officials say (Texas Tribune) 

WNU Editor: I was living in Montreal, Quebec when we had an ice-storm that knocked out our grid for a few weeks in January, 1998 (see here). What brought down the grid was structural damage. Our  major transmission lines collapsed from the weight of the ice. In my case we had no power for 10 days, and the temperature in our house went down to 5 degrees Celsius (it was minus 20 Celsius outside).

There are many who are calling for Texas to adopt a "green-climate" strategy to their power needs. That is not the lesson that Quebec learned or adopted from our grid collapse. In Quebec the transmission lines were reinforced for a worse case scenario, and the grid within our cities are now underground. For Texas, they have many options to make sure this does not happen again, and winterizing their grid should be at the top of the list. 

There are many in Texas who are also now pushing to heavily regulate the operators. That will not solve the crisis nor prevent the next one. In Quebec our grid is run and owned by the government, and it is as heavily regulated. That did not stop the disaster that occurred in 1998, and it will not prevent the next one when it happens. Weather by its nature is unpredictable. The only thing that we can do is adjust, and be prepared to repair the damage when it does occur. 

Has The World's Winter Gone Crazy?

ATHENS: Covid-19 vaccinations and most public transport were brought to a grinding halt as Athens found itself in the middle of heavy snowfall. Pictured: Snow covers the Acropolis on Tuesday 

Daily Mail: Why has the world's winter gone crazy? From snow in Greece to 70% of America under ice and record drifts in Russia, the Northern Hemisphere is turning white 

 * Polar vortex, ultra-cold air that usually hangs above North Pole, has descended on the northern hemisphere 

 * From Athens, Greece, to Athens, Texas, subzero temperatures and snowfall have stunned ill-prepared citizens 

 * Meteorologists say this polar vortex is one of the largest and most brutal they have seen since the 1950s 

 * White-outs at the Hagia Sophia and Acropolis this week are part of a weather pattern which started in January 

 * 'The Beast from the East' froze the River Thames in London for the first time in decades before moving south 

All across the northern hemisphere from Athens, Greece, to Athens, Texas, snowfalls have blanketed streets and temperatures have plunged to freezing in places where winter usually requires no more than a jacket. 

Snow has covered nearly three quarters of the United States, to an average depth of six inches, compared to 35.5 per cent last year with an average depth of 4.6 inches. 

In Moscow cars have been submerged under snowdrifts in the biggest dump to hit the Russian capital since 1973, while comparatively warmer cities like Madrid, Istanbul and Rome, have also been covered in white. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: It has been a colder winter this year (I live in Montreal). There has also been a lot of snow (but no record).

Am I worried? 

No. 

This is why we call it "the weather".

Record Cold Temperatures Are Straining The U.S. Energy Grid In The Midwest

As per last night, its not only Texas. The blue area is likely the worst 5 days of winter in the lifetime of anyone that has spent their life here and is highly unlikely to repeat itself to this extent in their lifetime pic.twitter.com/2FkhnGkRMT

— Joe Bastardi (@BigJoeBastardi) February 14, 2021

Dallas News: Winter storm could bring rotating power outages to North Texas through Tuesday 

The short, controlled outages will begin as early as Sunday night if demand outpaces supply. 

Rolling power outages could sweep across the state through Tuesday if demand outpaces supply as expected because of the bitter cold. 

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, emphasized Texans should reduce energy consumption as temperatures dropped. The grid could reach unprecedented winter demands, said Dan Woodfin, ERCOT’s senior director of system operations. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The real shocker are sky-high energy prices that consumers are now facing .... Energy Trader: We've Officially Hit "Holy S*it Levels" (Zero Hedge). 

Update: On a side note. Car manufacturers are heralding the day when only electric cars will be built .... General Motors to eliminate gasoline and diesel light-duty cars and SUVs by 2035 (Washington Post). But how can this happen when the existing energy grid cannot meet today's demand let alone the demand that millions of electric cars will need in the near future? Am I missing something?

Is Canada About To Be Hit With A Major Hurricane?

"It looks like it's going to intensify to a 4 maybe by the end of the afternoon (Friday), so it's a powerful system. The danger with this system is that it's not tracking over or close to land. When systems do that, the outer bands … when they start to brush up against coastline or land, it weakens the storm system. There's no land around. It's out in the mid-Atlantic and it's just churning and the sea surface temperatures are warmer than normal. So right now, there's nothing to weaken this system," said Day.

Zero Hedge: "Powerful" Hurricane Teddy Strengthens To Cat 4 With Canada In Crosshairs; Tropical Depression 22 Forms In Gulf

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is closely monitoring "powerful" Hurricane Teddy as it continues to churn in the Atlantic Ocean and could make landfall in Canada early next week.

As of 0500 ET Friday, Teddy is generating 130 mph winds (Category 4) while moving northwest at 12 mph and located about 900 miles southeast of Bermuda. The system is expected to make landfall near Nova Scotia, Canada, as a Category 2, on Tuesday/Wednesday.

Chief meteorologist Cindy Day of SaltWire Network, a Canadian newspaper, said Teddy "would come into Canadian waters late Monday night, and we'd start to get impacted Tuesday afternoon in Nova Scotia, Wednesday in Newfoundland."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This post is for my Canadian readers. It is too early to say where this hurricane is heading. But Canada is not use to being hit with hurricanes, and this will cause significant damage if it continues in its current trajectory.

The Biggest Saharan Dust Storm In 50 Years Hits The U.S.

Daily Mail: 'Gorilla Dust Cloud' formed from the biggest Saharan dust storm in 50 years hits the US and begins its sweep over Florida and Texas - sparking health warnings for the vulnerable amid spikes in COVID-19

* The 'Gorilla Dust Cloud' struck Mississippi's gulf coast Thursday
* The 3,500-mile-long cloud traveled 5,000 miles from North Africa, sweeping across the Caribbean this week before reaching US soil
* It will hang over the US Southeast this weekend and into the middle of next week, shrouding the region in a brown haze and deteriorating the air quality
* It is moving across states including Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas
* States worst affected include those suffering record-high COVID-19 cases
* Experts are warning vulnerable people to stay inside as the poor air quality caused by the dust storm poses another respiratory threat as well as the virus
* Strong winds over the Sahara typically whip up sand this time of year and carry it across the Atlantic to the Americas but the dust is more dense this year

The biggest Saharan dust storm in 50 years has hit the US and is headed for Florida, Texas and other states already struggling with COVID-19 surges, sparking fresh fears of respiratory problems among Americans.

The so-called 'Gorilla Dust Cloud' struck Mississippi's gulf coast Thursday after charting its path across the Caribbean this week where air quality plunged to 'hazardous' levels.

The 3,500-mile-long cloud traveled 5,000 miles from North Africa before reaching the region stretching from Florida west into Texas and north into North Carolina through Arkansas, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Read more ....

Update #1: Saharan dust arrives in the US (CNN)
Update #2: Winds blow massive Saharan dust cloud into US airspace (AccuWeather)

WNU Editor: Get ready for some awesome sunsets and sunrises.

What Is Wrong With The Weather?

It’s not the lowest elevation on the planet but -35C at 50deg latitude in mid November. Getting rediculous and no news coverage. pic.twitter.com/HTKpu1yVNY

— Syn Kronos (@KronosSyn) November 16, 2019

WNU Editor: My family and friends in Russia are telling me that cold records have been the norm throughout Russia since September .... Siberia Suffers First Snows of the Season (far earlier than usual) + more All-Time Record Cold (Electroverse). As for where I live in Canada .... It's so cold in some parts of Canada that records were broken this weekend (CTV), and the economic costs are climbing .... Millions of acres of Canadian canola freeze, compounding 'harvest from hell' (Reuters).

U.S. Military Scrambles To Ready Its Bases For Hurricane Dorisn

A map showing some US military bases alongside the possible track of Hurricane Dorian as of early morning on Monday, September 2, 2019. Google Crisis Map

Business Insider: The US military is scrambling to ready its bases and get planes and ships out of the way of Hurricane Dorian

* Hurricane Dorian is approaching the US, with devastating power and an unpredictable path.
* The US military has taken precautions to defend its assets, by readying base personnel and moving planes and ships out of the way.
* The task is especially difficult given how wide an area the storm could potentially hit.
* It came as more than 1 million US civilians were ordered to evacuate their homes.

Hurricane Dorian continued to flummox weather forecasters and military officials Monday as they struggled to predict where the dangerous and unpredictable storm might hit the mainland.

The storm, which was recorded over the weekend blasting out winds in excess of 200mph, has provided unusually difficult to predict, defying many common models used by forecasters.

This has forced military planners to either shut down or take action to protect bases ranging from Florida to southern Virginia.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It now looks like Hurricane Dorian is going to stay out at sea .... NOAA tracking cone.

Hurricane Dorian -- News Updates September 1, 2019

Daily Mail: South Carolina orders the evacuation of nearly a MILLION people along its ENTIRE coastline as 'Apocalyptic' Hurricane Dorian barrels towards the US and batters the Bahamas with 200mh gusts

* As Hurricane Dorian comes perilously close to mainland US, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced mandatory evacuation orders for the state's coastline, which will go into effect on Monday
* The order covers some 830,000 residents, many of whom will be evacuating their homes for the fourth time in four years
* Hurricane Dorian intensified into a Category 5 storm early Sunday morning with record-setting gusts exceeding 200mph
* Dorian made landfall in the Bahamas on Elbow Cay in the Abacos Islands at 12.40pm ET then again at 2pm ET, bringing with it 'catastrophic' conditions
* Video posted to social media by residents of Abaco in the Bahamas shows homes missing parts of their roofs, utility lines down and cars overturned
* 'You cannot tell the difference as to the beginning of the street versus where the ocean begins,' Bahamanian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said on Sunday
* As of 8pm ET, Dorian was centered about 155 miles east of West Palm Beach, Florida

South Carolina on Sunday ordered nearly a million people living along its coastline to evacuate in anticipation of the arrival of Dorian, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane that is currently battering the northern Bahamas.

The evacuation orders were announced on Sunday evening by Governor Henry McMaster, who is taking no chances despite forecasts saying that the storm will move parallel to the coast.

McMaster’s order goes into effect at noon Monday, when state troopers will begin reversing lanes so that people can all head inland on major coastal highways.

Authorities say the order covers approximately 830,000 people, many of whom will be evacuating for the fourth time in four years.

Read more ....

Hurricane Dorian -- News Updates September 1, 2019

The Latest: Dorian pounding Bahamas as Florida keeps watch -- AP
Hurricane Dorian descends on US: Live Updates -- CNN
Hurricane Dorian: category 5 storm hits Bahamas before tracking towards Florida – updates -- The Guardian
Dorian strikes Bahamas with record fury as Category 5 storm -- AP
Cutting it close: Florida’s fate may be a matter of miles -- AP
Dorian pummels Bahamas, hurricane forecast to move dangerously close to Florida -- Reuters
Hurricane Dorian: Bahamas slammed by category five storm -- BBC
Hurricane Dorian slams into Bahamas as dangerous Category 5 storm -- France 24
Hurricane Dorian strikes Bahamas: Homes severely damaged, cars overturned, power lines down -- FOX News
Hurricane Dorian pounds northern Bahamas with 'catastrophic' winds -- The Guardian
Category 5 Hurricane Dorian batters Bahamas with historic strike -- UPI
Dorian brings 'fury' to Bahamas as it crawls toward Florida -- DW
Category 5 Hurricane Dorian hits Bahamas, moves closer to United States -- ABC News Online
'Abaco is going to get wiped': Bahamas hit by historic Hurricane Dorian -- The Guardian
Hurricane Dorian: Category 5 storm hits Bahamas -- Al Jazeera
Hurricane Dorian smashes houses & cars, knocks trees on destructive landfall in the Bahamas (VIDEO) -- RT
What is a Category 5 storm? -- AFP

Pentagon Orders The Immediate Evacuation Of Warships And Aircraft Ahead Of Hurricane Dorian

BREAKING: @NAVSOUS4THFLT has ordered U.S. Navy ships homeported at Naval Station Mayport to set Sortie Condition Alpha as Hurricane Dorian heads toward Florida’s Atlantic coast. FILE PHOTOS.https://t.co/ZXZWuxeI3y pic.twitter.com/pmpQiELzwV

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) August 30, 2019

FOX News: Florida military bases move warships, aircraft ahead of Hurricane Dorian

The Navy has ordered dozens of warships and aircraft to evacuate two bases in northeast Florida ahead of the anticipated arrival of Hurricane Dorian.

On Thursday, the Navy's Fourth Fleet declared "Sortie Condition Alpha" for ships homeported at Mayport Naval Station at the mouth of the St. Johns River east of Jacksonville. “Sortie Condition Alpha" means units must prepare to dispatch or deploy because destructive weather is expected within 24 hours.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: It looks like the hurricane is going to bypass Florida .... Category 4 Dorian bears down on Bahamas, may skirt Florida (AP).

Cyclone Idai Devastates Mozambique And Zimbabwe

The Guardian: Cyclone Idai: more than 1,000 feared dead in Mozambique

President describes scale of disaster as huge, as Red Cross says most of Beira damaged or destroyed

More than 1,000 people are feared dead in a devastating cyclone that hit Mozambique on Friday, the country’s president has said.

Filipe Nyusi told Mozambican radio he had seen “many bodies” floating in the overflowing Pungwe and Busi rivers. “It appears that we can register more than 1,000 deaths,” he said, adding that more than 100,000 people were at risk because of severe flooding.

Read more ....

More News On Cyclone Idai Devastating Mozambique And Zimbabwe

Cyclone Idai: 'Massive disaster' in Mozambique and Zimbabwe -- BBC
Cyclone’s huge floods leave hundreds dead in southern Africa -- AP
Over 1,000 feared dead after cyclone slams into Mozambique -- AP
Cyclone hit millions across Africa in record disaster: U.N. -- Reuters
Cyclone Idai 'might be southern hemisphere's worst such disaster' -- The Guardian
Cyclone Idai devastates Mozambique and Zimbabwe -- DW
Cyclone survivors clinging to rooftops in Mozambique as they await rescue, aid officials say -- CNN
Cyclone Idai: Death toll 'could reach 1,000' -- DW
Cyclone’s huge floods endangers the lives of more than 100,000 in southern Africa -- CNBC/AP
Zimbabwe cyclone survivors tearfully list dead relatives -- AFP
AP Explains: Why southern African cyclone is so shattering -- AP
Cyclone Idai leaves trail of destruction in southern Africa – video report -- The Guardian
Hundreds dead or missing in devastation of Cyclone Idai – in pictures -- The Guardian

Is The U.S. Military Unprepared For Extreme Weather?

Tyndall Air Force Base suffered extreme damage from Hurricane #Michael as it came ashore. Nearly every structure on base suffered roofing damage according to the base commander. #flwx #tropics pic.twitter.com/9WeXTwMSu4

— Zach Covey (@ZachWPDE) October 11, 2018

VOX: Hurricane Michael showed how woefully unprepared the military is for extreme weather

The military says climate change is a “threat multiplier.” It’s still struggling to prepare for those threats.

Hurricane Michael roared through the Florida Panhandle last week with 155 mph winds and a storm surge that reached 14 feet, killing at least 18 people in four states, destroying homes, and knocking down power lines serving millions of customers.

Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Florida, took a direct hit and suffered heavy damage. “The flight line is devastated. Every building has severe damage. Many buildings are a complete loss,” according to the base’s most recent storm damage update.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: You can never be prepared when it comes to extreme weather events. Until two years ago the U.S. did not experience a major hurricane for almost 10 years. Tornadoes have been at an all time low for the past two to three years .... but this could change radically next year. The weather is the weather.

Hurricane Michael - Live News Coverage

WNU Editor: This is as bad as it can get.

Update: Watch Hurricane Michael Make Landfall in Florida (Live) -- Weather Channel

Deadly Heatwave Kills 34 In Southern Quebec (And I Am In The Middle Of It)

CBC: Death toll jumps to 34 as heat wave continues to bake southern Quebec

Environment Canada issues heat, smog warning, though cooler weather expected in coming days.

The heat-related death toll jumped to 34 across Quebec Thursday, as Environment Canada issued a smog and heat warning for today.

As of midday, Montérégie's public health department reported two more deaths caused by the worst heat wave Quebec has seen in decades. Montreal's health department reported 18, and seven have been reported in the Eastern Townships.

One death in Laval and six in the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec region brought the total number of heat-related deaths in the province up to 34, and more are expected.

Read more ....

Update: Deadly heat wave kills 33 across southern Quebec (BBC)

WNU Editor: I live in Montreal, and I had to go out for a few hours midday. And yes .... it is hot. Why this is a killer is because of the high temperatures coupled with high humity readings. I live in front of the Saint Lawrence River, so I am blessed with a nice breeze. But my outside thermometer is saying 38C, with a humidity reading near 90%. And no .... I do not have air-conditioning. I will be leaving in a few hours to go up north to my chalet .... it is far cooler and far more comfortble there. And as for those who want to know how my mom is doing .... she is 92 and she loves this weather. Go figure.

It Is Cold Out There!!!!

USA Today: New arctic blast expected to send temps lower as areas recover from 'bomb cyclone'

A wild, winter storm along the East Coast finally moved on, but the brutal cold is only getting worse, with a new surge of bitter arctic air set to drive temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below average from the Great Lakes to most of the Northeast.

The National Weather Service said highs Saturday will be in the single digits across the lower Great Lakes down into Ohio, and coastal New England, and readings in the teens likely from Washington, D.C., to New York City.

Worse, temps are expected to plunge overnight to zero over most of New England, and perhaps even down to 5 to 10 degrees in North Carolina.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I have experienced extreme cold temperatures before. Twenty years ago I was in the Urals of Russia in January and the temperature was -48C. I was in Labrador city (Canada) 15 years ago in February and the temperature was -43C. At my chalet in the Laurentians of Quebec I have had a few -40C days. But last night and early this morning .... in Montreal .... it was -26C with a windchill of about -44C .... and I can this without any hesitation .... this has been the worse.

It's Cold Out There

WNU Editor: I am at my chalet in the Laurentians in Quebec. Just checked the thermostat outside .... -29C right now. The forecast for tonight's New Years celebrations is -33C .... with the windchill around -40C. Hmmm .... yup .... we are going to celebrate indoors.

Caribbean Islands Are Getting Battered By Hurricane Irma Right Now -- Hurricane Irma News Updates

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Storm coming: The most powerful Atlantic Ocean hurricane in recorded history made its first landfall in the islands of the northeast Caribbean early today, churning along a path pointing to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba before possibly heading for Florida over the weekend

'President Donald J. Trump Approves Emergency Declarations'

➡️https://t.co/xSHSyNkvuP
➡️https://t.co/UbBSFOhMM7
➡️https://t.co/xWOfp9Z9iR pic.twitter.com/qoJOM54Gy8

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2017

Daily Mail: Paradise lost: Brute force of 185mph Hurricane Irma wreaks havoc as it tramples exotic Caribbean islands on its devastating march towards the US east coast

* Hurricane Irma made its first landfall on Wednesday - hitting several islands in the northeastern Caribbean
* The damage has been widespread, but so far there have been no reports of casualties
* The four 'most solid' buildings on the island to St. Martin have been destroyed
* The Red Cross said it is preparing for 'a major humanitarian response' after 'extremely worrying' forecasts
* Irma has sustained winds of 185mph, making it the most powerful storm ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean
* The storm is now moving towards Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and Cuba
* While Irma's end game is still unclear, it appears on track to hit south Florida on Sunday
* Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency on Monday for all 67 counties in the state

Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc after pummeling exotic Caribbean islands with 185mph winds on its devastating march towards the U.S. east coast.

Aid agencies are bracing for a 'major humanitarian response' as the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic made its first landfall.

Buildings have been destroyed, roads flooded and people left trapped after the 'monster' storm - estimated to be the size of France. So far though, there have been no reports of deaths of any of the islands that have experienced Irma's wrath.

Read more ....

Hurricane Irma News Updates

The Hurricane Cone -- NOAA
Hurricane Irma: devastation as 'superstorm' hits Caribbean and heads for Florida – live -- The Guardian
Hurricane Irma News Updates -- The Telegraph
States of emergency declared in Florida, SC as Hurricane Irma lashes Puerto Rico -- ABC News
Rains from monster Hurricane Irma begin hitting Puerto Rico -- AP
Hurricane Irma lashes Caribbean, Florida braces for hit -- Reuters
Even intrepid Keys residents ready to evacuate ahead of Irma -- AP
Hurricane Irma wreaks major damage in Caribbean -- BBC
Hurricane Irma: Caribbean weathers storm as Florida prepares for worst -- DW
Puerto Rico nervously awaits Hurricane Irma after storm rips Caribbean islands -- CNN
Fierce Hurricane Irma lashes Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico -- KSBW
Hurricane Irma destroys weather station on Caribbean island St Barts -- Independent
World-famous airport where planes fly over Maho beach-goers' heads as they land on St Maarten is SMASHED to pieces by 185mph winds of Hurricane Irma -- Daily Mail
Hurricane Irma: Storm batters Caribbean islands as Donald Trump declares emergency in Florida -- ABC News Online
Irma: Category 5 hurricane causes major damage and flattens 'most solid buildings' on Saint Martin island -- The Independent
Hollywood stars' disaster epic: Johnny Depp and Eddie Murphy among A-listers with homes in Irma's path while Trump's St Martin mansion is set for a battering - but Richard Branson refuses to leave his Necker Island retreat -- Daily Mail
Richard Branson is set to hunker down with Virgin staff in the wine cellar of his Necker Island home as Hurricane Irma rages through the Caribbean -- Daily Mail
This striking image from space captures the monstrous scale of Hurricane Irma -- Business Insider
Hurricane Irma: How does it compare to other category five storms? -- BBC

U.S. Navy Begins Evacuations As Hurricane Irma Approaches

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

CNN: US Navy to evacuate 5,000 as military preps for Hurricane Irma

(CNN)The US military has ordered the evacuation of over five thousand personnel from a Naval Air Station in Florida in preparation for Hurricane Irma.

Irma is now a Category 5 storm and one of the strongest ever recorded in the Atlantic.

Currently, it is threatening to slam into Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with "potentially catastrophic" force on Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The military is braced for it to hit the US mainland and the current forecast suggests it could strike Florida over the weekend.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: This is probably going to be the first of many military evacuations.

Update: Pentagon diverts 2 warships, Marine expeditionary unit for Hurricane Irma relief (Miami Herald).