No matter where you live in the continental United States, it has been a very mild winter. Most places have been between 5-10°F above normal temperatures for the season. In fact, January was the fourth warmest on record for the lower 48. However, in Europe (and also Alaska), it has been quite the opposite. Several record low temperatures have been set in countries across Europe. Reports say the death toll is now over 350 from the cold spell due to hypothermia alone, with hundreds more hospitalized.
Image below: Lampposts are covered in sea-spray from ice waves in the Croatian Adriatic coastal town of Senj (Courtesy: Reuters)
Temperatures in some places have dropped to -30°F, even -40°F at its lowest. Over 100 towns in Romania were isolated with no open roads or train service, and no electricity. Just as temperatures started to warm slightly in southern Bulgaria, the melting snow caused a dam wall to break killing 8 people and causing the evacuation of 50 more.
Authorities opened 1,500 shelters across Europe to provide food and heat, and a city sports hall was turned to a temporary shelter for some 350 homeless people in Turkey. In Romania prison inmates were sent to shovel snow which had blocked the path leading to an animal shelter with some 300 stray dogs and puppies.
Temperatures are forecasted to stay below zero or in the single digits for the majority of Europe for at least the next week. Ukraine will likely see temperatures as low as -22°F for the next 8 days. Ports at the Black Sea have been closed due to clod temperatures and very strong winds.
Image below: Brussels' famous Manneken Pis fountain has stopped flowing water because of frozen pipes (courtesy: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)
Sources: World News, Washington Post, International Business Times, CTV, Daily Mail
Image below: Lampposts are covered in sea-spray from ice waves in the Croatian Adriatic coastal town of Senj (Courtesy: Reuters)
Temperatures in some places have dropped to -30°F, even -40°F at its lowest. Over 100 towns in Romania were isolated with no open roads or train service, and no electricity. Just as temperatures started to warm slightly in southern Bulgaria, the melting snow caused a dam wall to break killing 8 people and causing the evacuation of 50 more.
Authorities opened 1,500 shelters across Europe to provide food and heat, and a city sports hall was turned to a temporary shelter for some 350 homeless people in Turkey. In Romania prison inmates were sent to shovel snow which had blocked the path leading to an animal shelter with some 300 stray dogs and puppies.
Temperatures are forecasted to stay below zero or in the single digits for the majority of Europe for at least the next week. Ukraine will likely see temperatures as low as -22°F for the next 8 days. Ports at the Black Sea have been closed due to clod temperatures and very strong winds.
Image below: Brussels' famous Manneken Pis fountain has stopped flowing water because of frozen pipes (courtesy: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)
Sources: World News, Washington Post, International Business Times, CTV, Daily Mail
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