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Cold weather blasts North America

The eastern half of Canada and the USA are gripped by Arctic conditions.

Temperatures have plunged across North America, turning what had been a relatively mild winter into a bitterly cold one.
Temperatures have plunged across North America, turning what had been a relatively mild winter into a bitterly cold one.
By 
Steff Gaulter
26 Jan 2013

An Arctic blast has gripped North America over the last few days. Bitter weather and icy winds have dragged the temperatures down over many eastern parts of both Canada and the USA.

Snow has added to the misery, with more than 250 mm falling in parts of Michigan this week. The snow is known as ‘lake-effect snow’ because the air picks up moisture as it passes over the Great Lakes and delivers it as snow to the opposite coast. This is a regular hazard of the winters in North America.

The maximum temperature in Minneapolis on Monday 21 January was a bitter minus 19C (-2F). The biting wind ensured that the weather felt colder still.
The maximum temperature in Minneapolis on Monday 21 January was a bitter minus 19C (-2F). The biting wind ensured that the weather felt colder still.
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The thick ice on the plants shows that it(***)s clearly very cold at Niagara Falls in Canada too.
The thick ice on the plants shows that it(***)s clearly very cold at Niagara Falls in Canada too.
This tourist still looks cold despite his two coats and panda balaclava.
This tourist still looks cold despite his two coats and panda balaclava.
On Tuesday night, a huge fire engulfed a warehouse in Chicago. Fire department officials said it is the biggest fire the department has had to battle in years.
On Tuesday night, a huge fire engulfed a warehouse in Chicago. Fire department officials said it is the biggest fire the department has had to battle in years.
As firefighters poured water on the flames, the bitter conditions quickly turned the water to ice.
As firefighters poured water on the flames, the bitter conditions quickly turned the water to ice.
Huge icicles formed on the building, and everything around it was encased in ice.
Huge icicles formed on the building, and everything around it was encased in ice.
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One-third of all firefighters in Chicago were on the scene at one point or another trying to put out the flames.
One-third of all firefighters in Chicago were on the scene at one point or another trying to put out the flames.
In trailer parks, like this one in Union Beach, New Jersey, residents are using straw to insulate their homes. Some people are still living in temporary accommodation after the storm Sandy hit the region.
In trailer parks, like this one in Union Beach, New Jersey, residents are using straw to insulate their homes. Some people are still living in temporary accommodation after the storm Sandy hit the region.
The shoreline along the Delaware Bay in New Jersey is buried under thick ice.
The shoreline along the Delaware Bay in New Jersey is buried under thick ice.
Temperatures dropped below freezing in New York on Monday 21 January, and have remained below freezing ever since.
Temperatures dropped below freezing in New York on Monday 21 January, and have remained below freezing ever since.
The strong winds ensured the weather felt even colder than it was. The maximum temperature in New York on Monday was -7C, but it felt more like -17C.
The strong winds ensured the weather felt even colder than it was. The maximum temperature in New York on Monday was -7C, but it felt more like -17C.
The cold weather is expected to gradually ease over the weekend, with temperatures perhaps just nudging above freezing in New York on Sunday.
The cold weather is expected to gradually ease over the weekend, with temperatures perhaps just nudging above freezing in New York on Sunday.
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