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Deadly polar vortex freezes mid-America
PRINT ALL READINGS (PDF)Polar Vortex - Level 0
It is colder than Antarctica in many parts of the USA. This is because of a polar vortex - freezing air and wind from the Arctic. This rarely happens. There is a state of emergency in many towns. Schools and businesses have closed. People were told not to travel. They were told not to go outside or breathe the icy air.
The temperature in a part of Minnesota fell to -60º Celsius. The Chicago River and Niagara Falls turned to ice. The cold killed eight people. Officials told people to go outside only if necessary. Freezing air can be dangerous for the skin. It can cause breathing problems. Shoveling snow can also be dangerous.
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Polar Vortex - Level 1
It is freezing cold in a lot of America, from the north to the south. It is colder than in Antarctica. The cold is because of a polar vortex - freezing air and wind from the Arctic. This hasn't happened for decades. There is a state of emergency in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Many schools and businesses have closed because of the cold. People were told not to travel. They were told not to go outside or breathe the icy air.
The temperature in a part of Minnesota fell to -60º Celsius. Parts of the Chicago River, Lake Michigan and Niagara Falls turned to ice. The weather is responsible for the deaths of eight people. Health officials told people to go outside only if necessary. Letting freezing air get on the skin can be dangerous. It could lead to breathing problems. Shoveling snow can be dangerous. People should also be careful of snow and ice falling from the roof.
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Polar Vortex - Level 2
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A lot of America is in the middle of a deadly cold snap. Many states from the north to the south have freezing temperatures. This hasn't happened for decades. It is currently colder in some parts of the USA than in Antarctica. The cold spell is because of a polar vortex. This is freezing air and wind from the Arctic. The government has declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Many schools and businesses have closed because of the extreme cold. People were warned not to travel, and even not to go outside or breathe in the icy air.
A weather website said that the temperature in one part of Minnesota fell to a real-feel -60º Celsius. Many parts of the Chicago River and Niagara Falls turned to ice. Parts of Lake Michigan froze over. The big freeze is responsible for the deaths of at least eight people. Health officials are telling people to go outside only if it is necessary. They warned that letting the freezing air get on the skin was dangerous. It could lead to frostbite or breathing problems. People were also told to be careful when shoveling snow outside. People should be careful of snow and ice falling from the roof.
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Polar Vortex - Level 3
Much of mid- and northeastern America is in the middle of a deadly cold snap. Many states from Michigan in the north to Georgia in the south are experiencing freezing temperatures not experienced for decades. It is currently colder in many parts of the USA than it is in Antarctica. The cold spell is because of what is called a polar vortex. This is a swirling mass of air and wind that has come down from the Arctic, which is where the North Pole is. The government has declared states of emergency in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Many schools and businesses have been closed due to the extreme cold. People have been warned not to travel, and even not to go outside and breathe in the icy air.
The weather website AccuWeather said that the temperature in Thief River Falls, in the state of Minnesota, dropped to a real-feel minus sixty degrees Celsius. Many parts of the Chicago River turned to ice, Niagara Falls turned into a winter wonderland and parts of Lake Michigan froze over. The bitter freeze is believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least eight people so far. Health officials are urging people to go outside only if it is absolutely necessary. They warned that exposing the skin to the freezing air was dangerous. It could lead to frostbite or breathing problems. People were also urged to be careful when shoveling snow outside and be careful of blocks of snow and ice falling from the roof.
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