Winter Weather Grips U.S., From Bomb Cyclone to Groundhog Day Forecast
A powerful winter weather system brought bitter cold and snow to a large portion of the United States, even reaching as far south as Florida, while Punxsutawney Phil prepared to deliver his annual weather forecast. According to NPR News, an intense low-pressure "bomb cyclone" along the East Coast drove extremely cold air deep into the Southeast.
Temperatures in southern Florida plummeted into the 20s on Sunday morning, marking the coldest temperatures the region had experienced since 1989, according to the National Weather Service. The agency issued a warning on its website about freezing temperatures and "bitterly cold air" surging down the Florida Peninsula, NPR News reported.
Meanwhile, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Groundhog Day arrived, placing Punxsutawney Phil in the spotlight. The Associated Press reported that Phil's handlers would announce whether the weather-predicting groundhog saw his shadow upon emerging from his tree stump. Seeing his shadow is interpreted as a forecast for six more weeks of winter.
The cold weather also prompted reflection on how to navigate icy conditions. Wired published an article detailing the physics behind escaping an ice bowl, a challenge involving getting out of a carved-out ice sphere. The article outlined three possible escape plans based on a physics model.
In other news, NPR reported on efforts to preserve plant life in Chile's Atacama Desert, the world's driest desert. According to NPR, the country is freezing its future to protect plants. The Initihuasi Seed Bank is playing a vital role in preserving biodiversity.
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