Polar vortex heading for US sending temperatures plunging

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3 months ago

December 31, 2024

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Apolar vortex headed for the US could bring cold winds and low temperatures this week, making January the coldest month in over a decade.

According to the National Weather Service, the arctic blast will affect a large swathe of the country, arriving in the northern Rockies and expected to have spread to the East Coast by New Year’s Day.

‘A significant pattern change is expected across much of the country as an Arctic Outbreak is forecast to spread form the Northern Plains to the south and east, leading to exceptionally high probabilities of below-normal temperatures expected across much of the East’, the NWS said.

The plunge will bring wind chills across the Midwest with temperatures dipping below zero in at least 30 states.

‘The coldest air of the season to date and dangerous wind chills chills are likely across many areas of the Southeast’, the NWS warned.

In some areas, temperatures are forecasted to reach an average of around 20 degrees, while freezing conditions in the Gulf coast and even Florida could be expected.

Snowfall is also possible across parts of the Southern Plains and the Southeast with the potential for heavy snowfall expected in the Appalachians, Ohio Valley, the Great Lakes and the Northeast.

A further drop in temperatures is expected next week, and below normal temperatures are predicted to affect central and eastern US during much of January.

A polar vortex headed for the US could bring cold winds and low temperatures this week, making January the coldest month in over a decade

According to the National Weather Service, the arctic blast will affect a large swathe of the country, arriving in the northern Rockies and expected to have spread to the East Coast by Wednesday

The plunge will bring wind chills across the Midwest with temperatures dipping below zero in at least 30 states

Plunges like these occur when air currents that keep air frosty over the North Pole – the polar vortex – weaken, making freezing arctic air slip south and push the vortex down with it.

That means arctic air is blasted over the US, while pressure changes cause strong winds.

Some states will be experiencing their coldest winter in years.

In Washington DC, the temperature hasn’t dropped below zero since January 31, 2019.

In Philadelphia, the same threshold has not been met since January 19, 1994.

Meanwhile, Atlanta’s temperatures have only dipped below zero three times since 2000, and the last time Raleigh, North Carolina’s temperatures fell below 10 degrees was in 2018.

January’s freezing temperatures will come after an unusually warm end to the month of December across the country.

Freezing temperatures could increase demands for heat and electricity and put a strain on the US electrical grid.

Plunges like these occur when air currents that keep air frosty over the North Pole weaken, making freezing arctic air slip south

That means arctic air is blasted over the US, while pressure changes cause strong winds

In some areas, temperatures are forecasted to reach an average of around 20 degrees

Some states will be experiencing their coldest winter in years

January’s freezing temperatures will come after an unusually warm end to the month of December across the country

It comes a decade after nearly 187 million Americans were affected by a polar vortex in 2014which brought a whirlpool of frigid, dense air across the country.

With wind chills that stretched from Montana to Alabama, much of the US experienced the coldest temperatures in almost 20 years.

The coldest temperature reported in a 24-hour period was -36 degrees at Crane Lake, Minnesota.

New York Governor at the time Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency covering 13 counties in the western part of the state.

In addition, more than 20 people across the country died from the cold as they dealt with severely low temperatures.

Delta police arrest father, second wife over death of three sisters

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1 hour ago

April 3, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Delta State police command has arrested a man and his second wife over the death of three sisters in Delta State.

The three sisters of the same parents have reportedly died while on a visit to their father’s residence at the Delta Steel Company, DSC, Township, Oruhworun, Udu local government area of Delta state.

Reports said that the sisters live apart from their father who remarried after the death of their mother but occasionally pay visits from time to time.

“The incident has sent shock-waves through the community, especially as it comes less than a year after the death of their biological mother.

“Their father remarried shortly after their mother passed on, with the stepmother reportedly being a close friend of the late woman (their mother),” a source said.

Ekwutosblog learnt that the sisters allegedly returned from a birthday party the previous day to their father’s DSC residence only to be found foaming at the mouth the next day.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), Edafe Bright, confirmed the incident, saying, “We are treating this as a suspicious death and are exploring all angles.

“The public will be updated as we make progress.”

In a related development, two Tiv boys from Benue state have been arrested in connection with the alleged killing of yet-to-be-identified Engineer contracted to construct offices at Akwukwu-Igbo, the headquarters of Oshimili North local government area in Delta state

According to sources, the incident occurred in December 2024, but details only emerged recently after two suspects were arrested in connection with the crime, while the cause of the dastardly act remained unknown.

Community source revealed that “the suspects, identified as Tiv youths from Benue state, allegedly killed the Engineer and concealed his body in a shallow grave inside a farm.

Also, Edafe confirmed that the body has been exhumed.

“We are aware of the incident and our men are working to ensure others involved are apprehended,” he assured.

Key witness, Cheryl Zondi breaks down as court acquits Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso on all charges of r3pe and human trafficking

Published

14 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Cheryl Zondi, a key witness in the case against Nigerian pastor, Timothy Omotoso, was overcome with emotion in court after he was found not guilty of r3pe and human trafficking.

LIB reported that the High Court in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, South Africa acquitted the 66-year-old pastor and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

The trio faced 32 counts of charges which included racketeering, trafficking in persons, r3pe and s3xual assault.

The ruling, which has shocked many, left Zondi visibly distressed as she reacted to the verdict.

LIB further reported in 2018 that Zondi, who claimed she was sexually assaulted by pastor Omotoso, waived her right to anonymity in the trial because she wanted the world to know the type of person he is.

“We took it upon ourselves to go through a humiliating process to have our dignity stripped from us in public, to be called names and have lies and all sorts of fabrications spread about us online, walking in the streets. Our lives have never been the same since we came out about this and one has to wonder if this is what the last years have come down to,” she said.

Algiers-Abuja direct flight service begins April 6 – Nigerian govt

Published

18 hours ago

April 2, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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The Nigerian government has announced the commencement of a direct flight service from Algiers to Abuja through Air Algérie.

The government stated that flights on this route will begin on April 6, 2025.

The acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the new route, which is a result of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between the two countries, will be operated by the national carrier, Air Algérie, using a Boeing 737 aircraft.

This new service is expected to enhance connectivity, promote tourism, and facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and Algeria.

With this development, the ministry noted that Nigerians will have access to more affordable flights from Algeria to Europe.

“This historic development marks a significant milestone in the growing diplomatic and economic relations between Nigeria and Algeria.

“It is pertinent to state that the implementation of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement between both countries has culminated in this successful venture.

“The affordable fare structure and Algeria’s proximity to Europe will also provide Nigerians with a convenient gateway to Europe, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s position as a regional hub for business, tourism, and transit.”