- Author, Ana Faguy
- Role, BBC News, Washington
One very big winter storm don bring snow, ice and freezing temperatures to most part of di US, and more dan 60 million Americans dey under weather alerts.
Forecasters tok say na polar vortex, one area of cold air wey dey circulate around di Arctic cause di extreme weather – wey dem name Storm Blair.
Di National Weather Service (NWS) tok say 30 US states dey affected and dem don declare state of emergency for seven US states, wey include Kansas – one of di worst hit areas, Missouri, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Arkansas and for parts of New Jersey.
These states dey experience frozen rain, snow, gusty winds and thunderstorms, oda states like Arkansas and Texas don dey on tornado watch.
Di NWS say di winter storm fit bring “di heaviest snowfall in at least a decade”, while AccuWeather forecaster Dan DePodwin say: “Dis fit lead to di coldest January for di US since 2011.”
E add say “temperatures wey dey below historical average” fit kontinu for a week. Temperatures 12-25F (7-14C) below normal are forecast.
Authorities don cancel more dan 1,700 flights into and out of di US on Sunday and about 8,300 more bin dey delayed, according to FlightAware.com.
Authorities don also announce di closure of all public schools and goment offices sake of di storm.
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
More snow, ice and rain to hit UK, as authorities issue flood warnings
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Warnings for snow, ice and rain dey in place across parts of UK, and authorities don warn pipo wey dey live for areas for southern England of flooding sake of rain and melting snow wey milder temperatures cause.
Authorities don issue more dan 100 flood warnings for parts of di south of England, wey mean say flood dey “expected” for these areas.
More dan 260 flood alerts dey in place for parts of England and Wales, wey mean say flooding dey “possible”.
Di Environment Agency tok say dem dey monitor swollen rivers around di UK, and some dey close to bursting dia banks.
E dey come afta snow and freezing rain sweep across parts of di UK ova di weekend, wey bring about cancellations and delays across di transport network.
Authorities extend amber weather warning to Monday morning, but now e cover one small area, wey span parts of Cumbria, Lancashire and the Lake District. Less severe yellow weather warnings dey in force for large parts of Scotland, Wales and elsewhere in England.
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) amber cold weather health alerts for all of England remain in place.
Heavy snowfall for Canada
Wia dis foto come from, Getty Images
Further north, Canadians dey also feel di effects of di polar vortex.
Most part of Canada dey under extreme weather alerts, wit freezing temperatures across di kontri.
Some areas also dey see snow squalls – one sudden heavy snowfall wey come wit strong winds.
For di central province of Manitoba, di wind chill fit see temperatures fall to as low as -40C.
Meanwhile, as much as 15in (38cm) of snow dey expected in parts of Ontario on Sunday.
Wetin be polar vortex?
Forecasters say na polar votex – one area of cold air wey dey circulate around di Arctic dey cause di extreme weather wey dey happun across di US, Canada.
Usually, di polar votex dey stay up around di North Pole, but e fit shift and expand, bringing lower temperatures further south dan usual.
Di polar votex don dey expand ova di US in rcent days bifor di winter storm start to hit on Saturday evening.
E dey expected to move eastwards in di coming days brining a mix of snow, ice and sub-zero temperatures.
How has the winter storm affected you? Tell us your experience.