ANOTHER huge winter storm has made its way across the country and is now tracking eastward into the Northeast, causing thousands of flights to be canceled across the states.
Winter Storm Oaklee was expected to bring snow, ice, and freezing rain from parts of the West all the way to the Northeast, according to the Weather Channel.
Much of Massachusetts is under a winter storm warning with as much as a foot of snow expected to fall Friday, according to Mass Live.
Warnings were also put into place that same day for parts of New York including in Dutchess County, Ulster County, and Sullivan County, FOX5 reported.
Although roads could be slick in the Tri-State region, the precipitation should transition to rain in the immediate New York City area by midday Friday, the Weather Channel reported.
Plus, some districts in North Texas canceled classes on Thursday as the area was under a winter storm warning, including cities like Dallas and Fort Worth, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Read our Winter Storm Oaklee path tracker for the latest news and updates…
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Last year’s storms were deadly in Texas
The winter storms in Texas in 2021 proved very deadly for residents there.
A Department of State Health Services report on the freezing temperatures last year found that 246 deaths were caused, which spanned 77 counties, and those who died ranged from under one-year-old to 102 years old.
Nearly two-thirds of the deaths were due to hyperthermia, the Texas Tribune reported.
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Swap alcohol for hot chocolate
“Alcohol doesn’t actually make you warm,” The Weather Channel noted in a video.
“It can cause you to feel warm by moving blood to the top of the skin, but taking that heat away from your core can be dangerous,” the experts at the channel explained.
Swap your alcoholic beverage for hot chocolate, which has more calories–essential for keeping your body healthy in chilly conditions–and will help raise your body temperature.
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Why should you warm up slowly?
Even though it’s tempting to hop into a hot bath, sauna, or jacuzzi after coming in from the cold, you may be putting yourself at risk.
“Exposure to intense heat is not a way to treat hypothermia,” The Weather Channel warned.
“If you soak in a jacuzzi it can be very painful for your skin, and even cause a heart attack.”
Try heating up after extreme cold exposure by applying warm washcloths to the body, or using strategically-placed hot water bottles.
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High winds can reportedly trigger migraines
When it’s blowing a gale outside, the body can react as if it is under attack and produce so-called fight or flight reflexes, such as raised heart rate and heightened emotions.
And high winds can also trigger a migraine.
One reason is the effect on the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that monitors the body’s functions; it can lead to constriction or swelling of the blood vessels in the head which can cause the pain associated with migraine.
Scientists at the University of Calgary in Canada looked at the links between migraine sufferers having an attack and the occurrence of Canadian ‘Chinook’ winds – warm westerly winds specific to Alberta, Canada, which have a definite onset time and are an indicator of profound weather change.
Of 75 patients studied, 32 were more likely to have migraines during Chinook weather conditions than on days without them.
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What happens during a cyclone?
It occurs when a midlatitude cyclone rapidly intensifies, dropping at least 24 millibars — A millibar measures atmospheric pressure — over 24 hours.
This can happen when a cold air mass collides with a warm air mass.
An example is when chilly air moves over warm ocean waters.
The formation of this rapidly strengthening weather system is a process called bombogenesis, which creates what is known as a bomb cyclone.
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People make jokes about Oaklee
Users have taken to Twitter to talk about Winter Storm Oaklee.
One person wrote: “Winter storm Oaklee?! What millennial mom named this storm?!”
Someone else wrote: “Winter storm Oaklee kicking my a** rn.”
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What is thundersnow?
Thundersnow, also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thunder snowstorm, is a rare type of thunderstorm in which snow, rather than rain, falls as the major precipitation.
It usually occurs in areas of high upward motion within an extratropical cyclone’s cold sector.
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Terms to identify winter weather
According to the city of Yonkers, New York, it is important that people familiarize themselves with the terms that are commonly used to identify winter weather.
Some of those are:
- Freezing Rain: causes ice to form on roadways and walkways.
- Sleet: rain that transforms into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet also causes roadways to become icy and slick.
- Winter Weather Advisory: implies there will be cold, ice, and snow.
- Winter Storm Watch: such as heavy snow or ice, is expected in the next few days
- A Winter Storm Warning: indicates that severe winter weather has begun or will begin shortly.
- Blizzard Warning: indicates there will be blinding snow, near-zero visibility, deep drifts, and life-threatening wind chills due to heavy snow and severe winds.
- A Frost/Freeze Warning: signifies that temperatures will be below freezing.
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How to best prepare for winter weather
Ready.gov shared the best ways of preparing for winter weather and temperatures.
- Insulation, caulking, and weather stripping will help keep the cold out of your home.
- Find out how to prevent your pipes from freezing. Install and test battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Gather provisions in case you may be stranded at home for several days due to a power outage.
- Remember to consider each person’s individual requirements, including medicines.
- Keep in mind your pets’ requirements. Extra batteries for radios and torches should be kept on hand.
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Avoid hypothermia
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body temperature is abnormally low. A temperature of fewer than 95 degrees is considered an emergency.
The symptoms of hypothermia, per Ready.gov, are:
- Shivering, tiredness, disorientation, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or sleepiness are all symptoms to look out for.
- Go to a warm room as soon as possible. The chest, neck, head, and groin should all be warmed initially. Keep your head and neck warm and dry by wrapping them in warm blankets.
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Always be prepared
Ready.gov recommends preparing for the upcoming winter weather at home, at work, and in your vehicle.
- Make a car-specific emergency supplies kit
- Jumper cables, sand, a flashlight, warm clothing, blankets, bottled water, and non-perishable food are all good to have on hand
- Keep a full tank of petrol in your car.
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What are winter storms?
Winter storms, like other forms of storms, begin with wet air ascending into the atmosphere.
At a cold front, rising air occurs when warm air is elevated above cold air, which is essential for cloud formation and precipitation.
As air flows up a huge hill or mountain, it may also rise.
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Why did the US start naming storms, continued
Established by the World Meteorological Organization, a list of names are now used to identify Atlantic hurricanes on a six-year rotation.
The only time that there is a change is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm is considered inappropriate.
In the event that more than twenty-one named tropical cyclones occur in a season, a supplemental list of names are used.
As for winter storms, The Weather Channel has been naming winter storms since the 2012-2013 winter season.
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Why did the US start naming storms?
Tropical storms and hurricanes were tracked by year and the order they occurred until the early 1950s.
However, over time, it was discovered that distinctive names would be needed to reduce confusion and streamline communications when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time.
That came after storm advisories broadcast from radio stations were mistaken for warnings concerning an entirely different storm located hundreds of miles away.
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Cars may not offer refuge
Finally, although it may function as a temporary shelter from a winter storm, you should avoid waiting out winter conditions in your car, the video revealed.
“Sheltering in a trapped vehicle can be dangerous,” experts at The Weather Channel explained.
A car’s metal frame creates “a very frigid situation,” and regulating temperature inside the car can be tricky.
Plus, running your engine may not be a safe solution, either.
“Only do so if you know that you can keep the exhaust pipe clear,” The Weather Channel’s winter safety video explained.
“Snow and slush buildup around the pipe can block the exhaust and cause carbon monoxide poisoning.”
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Warm up slowly
Although it may be tempting to hop into a hot bath, sauna, or jacuzzi after coming in from the cold, you may be putting yourself at risk.
“Exposure to intense heat is not a way to treat hypothermia,” The Weather Channel video warned.
“If you soak in a jacuzzi it can be very painful for your skin, and even cause a heart attack.”
Try heating up after extreme cold exposure by applying warm washcloths to the body, or using strategically-placed hot water bottles.
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No alcohol
“Alcohol doesn’t actually make you warm,” The Weather Channel noted in the video.
“It can cause you to feel warm by moving blood to the top of the skin, but taking that heat away from your core can be dangerous,” the experts at the channel explained.
Swap your alcoholic beverage for hot chocolate, which has more calories–essential for keeping your body healthy in chilly conditions–and will help raise your body temperature.
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Drink lots of water
Drinking water in the winter is vital to your safety, The Weather Channel explained in the video.
“You can still get dehydrated in the winter,” the outlet warned, but you’re less likely to realize it.
Dry winter air makes sweat evaporate more quickly, so you may not realize the severity of dehydration as quickly as you might in the summer months.
“Drink more water, especially when exercising outside,” The Weather Channel advised.
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Be gentle with frostbitten skin
In the video from January, The Weather Channel explained why you shouldn’t rub frostbitten skin to warm it up.
“Your first instinct may be to rub your hands together to cause friction, but fight the urge,” the video advised.
Tiny ice crystals on your skin may tear and rip at the soft tissue, causing more damage.
The safer way to warm up is by gradually heating your skin, ideally using warm water.
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Staying safe in winter weather
In a video posted to Twitter in January, The Weather Channel shared five tips for staying safe in winter weather.
- Don’t rub frostbitten skin
- Drink water
- Skip the booze
- Warm up slowly
- Vehicles may not be safe refuge
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How winter storms cause deaths
Most who die from winter storms are not killed by the weather itself.
A majority of the deaths are traffic accidents on icy roads.
Some also die from heart attacks while shoveling snow, and hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold weather.
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What was the name of the last winter storm?
The last major winter storm in the United States was named Winter Storm Nancy.
Winter Storm Nancy is causing severe weather in regions of Montana and Wyoming, as well as the Great Lakes and far northern New England, according to the National Weather Service.
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Speed limits reduced in Pennsylvania
PennDOT is temporarily lowering the speed limit on numerous routes in the region due to the severity of the winter storm.
PennDOT is advising travelers to avoid needless travel, but those who must drive will find that speeds on the following roadways will be limited to 45 mph:
- From exit 97/Brockway-DuBois on Interstate 80 to mile marker 194 at the Clinton/Union county boundary.
- Route 322 in Centre County, from Potters Mills to the Juniata County boundary, runs parallel to Interstate 99.
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Oaklee leaving ice behind
Users on Twitter are pointing out how icy Winter Storm Oaklee left their roads.
Someone noted that “parking lots are a lot like ice skating rinks” in Oklahoma.
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Baby dies in car on Kentucky bridge
As a devastating winter storm wreaked havoc throughout the country, leaving a path of snow, ice, and sleet as it marched east, a 19-month-old baby died following a series of collisions on an icy Kentucky bridge.
A teenager, Brandon Burkhalter, 19, also died after the car in which he was a passenger was struck by a tree.
