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LAST UPDATE | 18 Feb
HARSH COLD DESCENDED on the middle of the US on yesterday as a polar vortex gripped the Rockies and Northern Plains on the heels of weekend storms that pummelled the nation’s east with floods, killing at least 14 people.
The National Weather Service warned of “life-threatening cold” as wind chills dropped to minus -51C in parts of North Dakota and minus -46C in parts of Montana.
This morning was forecast to be even colder.
Extreme cold warnings were issued for an 11-state swath of the US stretching from the Canadian border to Oklahoma and central Texas, where the Arctic front was expected to bring near-record cold temperatures and wind chills in the single digits by midweek.
Meteorologists had predicted that parts of the US would experience the 10th and coldest polar vortex event this season.
Weather forces in the Arctic are pushing chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the US and Europe.
The death toll in flood-battered Kentucky rose to 12, governor Andy Beshear said last night.
Two fatal vehicle crashes were connected to the severe weather, he said, and at least 1,000 people stranded by floods had to be rescued.
Parts of Kentucky and Tennessee received up to six inches of rain as severe storms swept across the South.
Water submerged cars and buildings in Kentucky and mudslides blocked roads in Virginia.
In West Virginia, where there was one confirmed fatality with several people still missing, governor Patrick Morrisey asked President Donald Trump to issue a disaster declaration for a 13-county region ravaged by flooding.
Near Logan, West Virginia, authorities responded last night to the spill of acidic water from an abandoned coal mine. The mine blowout damaged a road, making it impassable, fire officials said.
In Atlanta, a person was killed when a large tree fell on a home early on Sunday.
Flood warnings were extended on across most of Kentucky and portions of Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio.
In Nebraska, where much of the state was under a winter weather advisory, a state trooper was killed on yesterday morning while responding to a crash on Interstate 80 near the town of Greenwood. The trooper’s name and further circumstances of the fatality were not immediately released.
Ice and snow made travel treacherous in large swaths of Michigan, which remained under a winter weather advisory until yesterday afternoon.
Authorities in Colorado reported eight people were killed in fatal vehicle crashes since Valentine’s Day and warned drivers to be cautious.
Avalanche warnings were issued for numerous areas of the Rocky Mountains, with the danger rated high in portions of Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
The Mount Washington Avalanche Centre issued an avalanche warning yesterday for areas of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Two ice climbers were rescued in the White Mountains on Sunday after triggering an avalanche that partially buried one of them, officials said.
Parts of a southwest Detroit neighbourhood were submerged after a nearly century-old water main burst, flooding streets, sidewalks and yards under several feet of water.
Firefighters used a ladder to help one person from the roof of a car in waist-deep water and a bulldozer was used to navigate a flooded street and help people leave a home, according to the fire department.
The 54-inch transmission main was built in 1930, according to the Great Lakes Water Authority.
Crews were attempting to isolate the break. It was not clear what caused it, but overnight temperatures had been well below freezing. No injuries have been reported.
This is the coldest month of the year for many locations, and air temperatures may approach record lows in some areas, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Anglin.
People should cover exposed skin and limit time outside to avoid frostbite, which can happen in minutes in such low temperatures, Anglin said. Neighbours should check on each other and those who are vulnerable and monitor heater vents to make sure they do not ice up.
Unsure of what exactly is happening with the earth’s climate? Check out our FactCheck Knowledge Bank for essential reads and guides to finding good information online.
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who gives a oot about someones wedding right now, money racket scheme anyway, means nothing
@Conor Doherty Coughlan: You’d change your tune if it was your wedding that had been postponed twice and you’d been shittinga.brick all week that you could only have 4 guests
@Conor Doherty Coughlan: very easy to say if you aren’t getting married. Was due to be married in June and it was cancelled. Rescheduled to November. I now have to tell many of my nearest and dearest that they can’t attend as we had originally invited 50. If it was reduced further to six myself and my fiance would have had to choose between our parents on who could attend.
@jzT: I’m not even trying to say stuff bad about people getting married, thats obviously horrible they have to wait but just ridiculous that theres an entire article dedicated to it after the announcement, like how can they be so ignorant to real problems and not report them
@Conor Doherty Coughlan: who hurt you?
@Conor Doherty Coughlan:
Fine comment when it doesn’t involve you! My son is getting married on the 5th of December and thankfully brothers and sisters can now attend. Prior to this we were looking at one priest, three stewards and the couple themselves with no family. Heartbreaking for parents!
@Conor Doherty Coughlan: funny how nobody cares when it doesn’t impact them. Like calling fir everything to be closed when you are working away on a full salary… maybe everybody should go on PUP during level 5 including NPHET and Politicians. Reckon we would be having a different conversation after a week.
@Conor Doherty Coughlan: An article was needed, actually.
There was no statement on whether the 5km rule would apply, and now we know the government’s position on that.
Never mind the weddings. What about all the extra divorces there’ll be this year?
@Liz O’Neill: it won’t be this year. Or next year with all the backlogs in tbe courts .
Are they closing the arrivals @ Dublin airport for non Irish citizens or is that too logical?
@Bailey Tormey: You’re making too much sense, stop it.
@Bailey Tormey: Who do you think is flying into the Country? The Airport is dead, there are Zero tourists in the Country. The only People flying into the Country are People who live here. The Aviation sector have been hung out to dry by the Government and Media. But suspicious the day another lockdown is announced because of Government incompetence because they didn’t increase ICU capacity they release a Story about a Man infecting 56 People and have a lovely graph to go with it. Pity they didn’t put as much thought into protecting nursing homes and increasing vital ICU beds
@David Garland: not true. There is a steady stream of people flying.
@Liberal Artisté: it is true, what tourists are in the Country? I work at the Airport everyday and haven’t seen one tourist since the end of lockdown
@David Garland: ireland in winter for a tourist is Cat. Close the pubs on top of that and it’s worse again. Add to that the shops, restaurants, hotels and limit the distance to 5k and I’m pretty sure well be limiting the no. Of tourists coming in. Dont be worrying about who’s coming through the airport, it ain’t an issue. Shop local or online shop Irish.
The lockdown rules are a joke, they haven’t got a clue what they are doing. Children can still go to school and mix with a number of students but someone can’t have anyone visit their home. Why don’t they stop flights or quarantine ppl properly who are coming in, that has a lot to do with it. They should take note from what they did in New Zealand.
25 guest, OK church’s, hotels, pubs, restaurants closed not allowed in a house. How do you have 25 guests? A wedding is a social event.
@David Connolly: churches are allowed to hold weddings, yes all else is closed, but hey marriage, if you believe that kind of thing, is a religious sacrament, the big party does not have to be part of day. If the party is all that matters then postpone till it can be held.
Complete over reaction , this lockdown will destroy country not covid
This blanket 5km rule is absolutely absurd. You could walk 5km in the countryside and meet nobody you won’t do that in a town or city. Actually its absolutely nonsense I have to drive 40 miles to work with 300 people but I can’t drive 10km to play golf on my own
@Michael McGrath:
Sure have your game of golon your way home from work and yoh wont be going out of your way…
@Michael McGrath: We had this argument last time it was in, you can’t deny the cases went down.
Wrong decision
@Micheal: care to elaborate
25 at a wedding. 32 in a classroom with no masks.
@Jonathan Regan: in my kids secondary school they all wear masks in the class.
@Jason Ebbs: and at lunch? In between classes? Travelling to and from school?
@A d d y o u r n a m e: not responsibility of school with the coming and going to the school. But in my kids school they have staggered the start and finish times with 10 minutes between the years. So 1st year finishes at 3:30, 2nd year at 3:40 and so on, and the same when starting. They get a mask break between each class, so the class goes outside and walks around the football pitch with their masks off while supervised by a teacher. During lunch they are not allowed leave the class they are in and so eat their lunch at their 2m distanced desks.
@Jason Ebbs: Sounds like prison
@King B: Sounds no different to other years in school, which also felt like prison for many.
@King B: the school is doing their best to keep kids safe, which I appreciate. The kids aren’t complaining, so all is good.
Should be 25 allowed at funerals, leaving 25 for weddings, just doesn’t seem fair
I’ve said it before & I’ll say it again. If you are or were due to get married this year, take a hint ;-)
Why would even be bothered, not worth the expense, postpone until this joke is over.
@Tom Bombdadil: that doesn’t suit everyone. Some people want to get on with their lives and may postpone and still be in the same position.
As usual they nearly did it. Either go all in or dont go at all.
Airports open essential services is basically most and no enforcement. A complete waste of time.
So if your getting married or a guest at a wedding your immune from covid? Makes as much sense as a €9 euro meal reducing your chances of contracting covid.
Are golf clubs remaining open?
@Sam Louise: Ya but they’re growing the rough and slicking up the greens. We just can’t catch a break!
@Jeremiah A Craic: still no word whether they are/ can remain open! GUI to release a statement this morning
Call the solicitors over and sign the papers and be done with it. Have the party when all this rubbish is over
@Colin: solicitors have nothing to do with weddings. Its a registrar or priest.
@Daff. Myers: They’ll come into it eventually! ;)
Does that mean 25 can attend the reception?
@Catherine Cosgrave Kehoe: It’s condescending because there is nowhere to have a reception & you can only meet people from one household.
@Kevin O’Brien: can you travel to the wedding?
@Kevin O’Brien: with 5k restrictions
@Seagoat returns: Tbh I’ve no idea, it’s a clear as mud.
@Kevin O’Brien: cheers, trying to get out of a wedding (winky face)
@Seagoat returns: In that case, no. No way can you travel beyond 5km, don’t even think about. You’ll be a disgrace to the nation if you do. Stay at home & don’t attend that wedding. ;¬)
@Kevin O’Brien: thought so, couldn’t do it. much appreciated sir
@Seagoat returns: You’re more than welcome.
@Seagoat returns: You can travel to attend a wedding and leave the county.
25 at weddings is a joke
How can 25 people, potentially on the piss be allowable at a wedding. Unfortunate for couples, but it doesn’t make sense.
@Eddie Forde: Its essentially the same as the gaa. The lads don’t social distance during the game at all or after and almost all are working other jobs with other people. Makes about as much sense as a wedding.
Increase in weddings over the next 6 weeks, most popular venue in local pubs
@Over the top: Except, the pubs are closed.
Does the 25 include the bride and groom? Or is it 25 guests?
@Conor J Linnane: I think it’s 25 in total, so the couple, guests and the staff all included in that number.
@Conor J Linnane: but to go where? There is nowhere to hold a reception I assume and only 1 household can mix?
@Jason Ebbs: nope – anyone in a professional capacity is not included in the numbers at a wedding ceremony and it’s unclear if the couple are included in the 25 as you are not a guest at your own wedding nor do you attend your own wedding. You host your own wedding. This is where the wording needs to be CRYSTAL clear!
@#blacklivesmatter #ibelieveher #werepealedthe8th: if you read the second paragraph in this very article “the number of attendees includes the couple and the celebrant…”
@Julianne Power: The wedding is in a registry office or Church. You can have the p…up next year!
@Jason Ebbs: the legislation says different. I work in the industry Thanks for mansplaining though. Always appreciated!
@Jason Ebbs: aaaaah they added that paragraph later. Wasn’t there originally. Cheers
@Conor J Linnane:
It said 25 guests
@#blacklivesmatter #ibelieveher #werepealedthe8th: you are welcome. Regarding your comment “mansplanning”…. I have no idea if you are male or female…..so I don’t know how I am being condescending.
You said I was wrong and I simply pointed out what the article stated. But as I said you’re welcome ;-)
@Julianne Power: One would assume they are in about the church. A reception is just that, an after party, in no way shape or form is part of getting married from a legal point of view.
When do all these restrictions kick in?
@Brian Tracy: Midnight Wednesday
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