USA covered the most powerful winter storm: you can get frostbite in 5 minutes

A winter storm covered the US and Canada. Experts warn that low temperatures are fraught with frostbite of exposed skin in just 5-10 minutes. The edition told in more detail with the BBC.

Photo: IStock

A powerful Arctic winter storm has left more than 135 million people stranded in hazardous weather over Christmas.

Storm warnings cover the entire US from coast to coast. And in the south they will reach the borders between the United States and Mexico, and will also affect Florida. Major airports canceled thousands of flights as the storm intensified.

The cold snap could bring the iciest Christmas in decades, forecasters say.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said temperatures of -50F (-45C) to -70F (-56C) are possible by the end of this week in some parts of the country. Even in large metropolitan areas such as Des Moines, Iowa, frostbite will be a serious hazard.

What is frostbite

Frostbite occurs when there is reduced blood flow to the extremities, a natural reaction to cold.

Symptoms usually begin with a feeling of coldness and pain in the affected parts.

In extreme cases, the tissue may die and require surgery, even amputation.

On the subject: How to quickly clear the windshield of ice: winter life hack conquered Internet users

If you find a person with frostbite, they should be taken to a warm place and seek medical attention.

How to protect yourself and what to do with frostbite

The very first rule is never go outside unless necessary.

If you still decide to go out into the cold, then prepare well:

• eat well before going out (if you will be outside for a short time, it is better to eat something sweet and hot, and also take some nutrition bar with you);
• keep warm: put on a hat that covers your ears, as well as something that will protect your face (for example, a scarf), mittens (not gloves); put loose, warm and waterproof shoes on woolen socks. It is better that the bottom layer removes moisture well (wool, polyester and polypropylene do an excellent job with this, but not cotton).
• You should wear several layers of loose clothing: the middle layer is thermal insulation (for example, fleece or wool); the outer layer is protection from wind and snow. Anything that gets wet needs to be changed as quickly as possible.

If you have diabetes, heart or lung disease, if you drink or smoke, if you take beta blockers, then you should only go outside if absolutely necessary - otherwise there is a high risk of ending up in the hospital.

Light frostbite can be recognized by red or even whitening soft skin, numbness and tingling will occur. Frostbitten place should be placed in warm (non-hot) water. Brushes can be warmed in the armpits. Usually after 15-30 minutes everything becomes normal.

If it is a serious matter (the skin is white, hard), it is better to consult a doctor. But you can try to warm up the same way as with a slight frostbite. In the process it usually hurts, then it is recommended to take a painkiller. If there is no improvement, then you can’t do without a doctor.

In a situation where everything is very serious (there are blisters, black areas), you need to go to the doctor as quickly as possible, but cover the frostbitten parts of the body with something sterile.

What you should never do:

• rub hard the sore spot, including snow and vodka (or any other alcoholic beverages);
• get warm with hot water or “dry heat” (for example, hair dryer).

With severe frostbite, hypothermia often occurs, and it is much more dangerous. A person in this state is cold, he does not stop trembling, it gradually becomes difficult to move and speak. If you measure the temperature, it will be below 35C.

In this case, you need to call an ambulance, get to a warm room, take off wet clothes, cover yourself with something, eat something sweet, drink warm (not alcohol) and, if possible, actively move.

bomb cyclone

Meteorologists say that by December 23, the winter storm could turn into a bomb cyclone.

A bomb cyclone is an explosive storm that quickly intensifies.

“This is not just a snow day like when you were a kid, this is very serious,” US President Joe Biden said.

The Arctic air mass is forecast to bring strong gusts and temperatures of 15F (-9,4C) to El Paso, Texas, where newly arrived illegal immigrants are camping out.

The storm is already wreaking havoc from Colorado to Wyoming and north of Minnesota.

Wow! Beyond dangerous driving conditions in Wyoming as a winter storm jogs across the United States. Video from Wyoming Highway Patrol pic.twitter.com/mFtXJSduSa

— Ian Schwartz (@SchwartzTV) December 22, 2022

In just 12 hours, the Wyoming Highway Patrol received 787 calls for help and recorded 104 accidents.

In South Dakota, Rosebud Sioux emergency manager Robert Oliver said workers were trying to clear the roads, with about 10 feet (3 m) of snow in some areas.

The authorities did not have enough equipment, he said, and the rescue of people stranded in their homes had to be halted as the hydraulic fluid in the heavy equipment froze.

Beyond the storm itself, there are concerns about power outages, with some providers already urging customers to turn down their thermostats.

New York Governor Kathy Hokul declared a state of emergency due to the storm.

She said the threat of flooding and ice jams "would cause a lot of damage to our community." Ice jams occur when large chunks of ice block the flow of a river and can cause flooding.

Timelapse of Winter Storm Elliott in Cincinnati, OH @ryanhallyall @ Local12 pic.twitter.com/oW8ZrEsAJ9

— Alex (@plainalexx) December 23, 2022

The governors of Kentucky, North Carolina, West Virginia, Georgia and Oklahoma also declared states of emergency, and Wisconsin declared an “energy emergency.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the weather "unique and dangerous," especially as people travel to be with loved ones over Christmas.

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Florida is expected to see the coldest Christmas in 30 years.

The NWS described the storm as a "once-in-a-generation" winter weather event and said "life-threatening cold winds" will hit the east coast on Dec. 23.

The NWS warned that more than 100 daily low temperature records could be set or broken over the next few days.

In Colorado, temperatures dropped to a record low of -9F (-22C) from 42F (5,5C) on December 22nd.

The city of Cheyenne, Wyoming set the record for the largest temperature drop in one hour, after going from 43F (6,1C) to 3F (-16,1C) within 30 minutes. Elsewhere in the western state, temperatures dropped to -35F (-37C).

#Houston Texas this morning — a fountain encases park benches in THICK ice as the temps drop into the teens.

? @PastorJaimeG #WinterStorm #ArcticBlast #TexasFreeze #htx @KHOU pic.twitter.com/q3mplJN2cu

— Pat Cavlin (@pcavlin) December 23, 2022

More than a dozen record low temperatures were also recorded in neighboring Montana.

In Chicago, Illinois, a winter storm warning is in effect until December 24, bringing with it several inches of snow and winds up to 80 km/h.

In Canada, most of Ontario and parts of Quebec are also bracing for a severe winter storm that is expected to last through the Christmas weekend.

More than 5300 flights have already been canceled in the US, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.

In anticipation of travel disruptions, major airlines including United, Delta and American have offered to waive fees from travelers who want to reschedule their flights.

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