Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Photo of the Day



I had to miss work today as my car wouldn't start due to the extreme cold currently being experienced throughout the Midwest.

In some areas last night, wind-chill temperatures plummeted to 58 below zero. That's colder than Antarctica!

According to the Star Tribune, the official air temperature this morning was 28 below, a couple of degrees short of the record for this date, 30 below in 1887.

Not surprising, then, that starting my (un-garaged) car this morning was a no-go. I even tried jump-starting it, but to no avail. And even if I had managed to get it started, I still would not have been able to drive it as the gear shift is locked frozen. A colleague has kindly offered to pick me up and take me to work tomorrow, and hopefully by tomorrow afternoon or Friday my car will have thawed out enough to start.

I feel bad for the homeless and those living in substandard housing, and hope that all my find shelter and warmth tonight.


Related Off-site Links:
"Off the Chart": Deep Freeze Grips Minnesota – MPR News Staff (MPR News, January 30, 2019).
Extreme Cold Paralyzes Midwest – The Weather Channel (January 30, 2019).
Four Midwesterners and Zebra Die Amid Cold Snap – Associated Press via MPR News (January 30, 2019).
Zebra Dies in Carroll County After Being Left Out in the ColdFox59.com (January 30,2019).
Polar Vortex Triggering Coldest Arctic Outbreak in at Least Two Decades in Parts of the MidwestWeather.com (January 30, 2019).
77 Below Zero? Polar Vortex Yields Deadly Cold as Thousands Endure Power Cuts and Travel Issues Mount in Midwest – Brian Lada and Amanda Schmidt (AccuWeather.com, January 30, 2019).
Deep Freeze Still On, But Signs of Life Emerging – Paul Walsh and Mary Lynn Smith (Star Tribune, January 30, 2019).
If the Earth Is Warming, Why Is It So Cold Outside?The New York Times (January 29, 2019).
Why the Midwest’s Deep Freeze May Be a Consequence of Climate ChangePBS Newshour (January 30, 2019).

UPDATES: Polar Vortex Death Toll Rises as Arctic Blast Keeps the Midwest in a Deep Freeze – Katie Mettler, Amy Wang, Angela Fritz, Alex Horton, and Cleve Wootson (The Washington Post via MSN News, January 30, 2019).
National Media's Polar Vortex Coverage Neglects Minnesota – Adam Uren (Bring Me the News, January 31, 2019).
Winter Storm Jayden, the Polar Vortex, and Climate Change: 3 Factors That Matter – Brenda Ekwurzel (Common Dreams, January 31, 2019).
Meet the Chicago Woman Who Rented Hotel Rooms for the Homeless During Deep Freeze – Doug Delony (WUSA9.com, February 1, 2019).


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Winter . . . Within and Beyond
Winter of Content
In Wintry Minnesota, An Australian Afternoon Tea
Winter Storm
Photo of the Day – January 26, 2017
Photo of the Day – January 6, 2015
Photo of the Day – December 10, 2013
Photo of the Day – February 1, 2013

Image: Michael J. Bayly.


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