After Record Heat, the U.S. Faces a Series of Unusual Weather Events
Massive ice blocks are causing traffic disruptions in Fairbanks, the second-largest city in Alaska. The area is experiencing a series of winter storms that have never been seen before.
Freezing rain makes driving extremely dangerous.
Scientists believe that the burning of fossil fuels and other uncontrolled human activities are changing the climate, making it more unpredictable and prone to severe natural disasters.
Rick Thoman, a weather expert at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, described the recent weather conditions in the area as “very unusual.”
Hours after Kodiak Island in southern Alaska recorded a temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius – the warmest December temperature ever recorded – a sudden downpour of rain “like a deluge” fell, unprecedented in history. Following this, temperatures plummeted and everything froze.
In California, persistent snow and rain continue to cause serious issues such as localized flooding, forcing residents to evacuate from areas around Los Angeles.
In the northern part of the state, Lake Tahoe – which was affected by wildfires a few months ago – has been buried under thick snow, leading to several fatalities. In November 2021, unusual freezing rain also caused widespread power outages in the Far East when a power plant in Vladivostok, Russia, had to shut down due to heavy snowfall.
Icemageddon – A Threat That Could Challenge Humanity?
Derived from “Armageddon,” the term “Icemageddon” refers to a form of dangerous natural disaster, characterized by ice storms and the formation of a thick layer of ice on the ground.
Two factors are necessary for this condition: heavy rain when temperatures rise, followed by a sudden drop below freezing (0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit).
Humid air also exacerbates the situation, leading to frequent occurrences of freezing rain.
When a large amount of freezing rain adheres to objects, branches can become heavier and bend. It also covers roadways with a slippery layer of ice, making it easy for pedestrians to slip and posing significant risks to traffic.
Moreover, freezing rain causes extensive damage, such as widespread crop loss and power grid disruptions due to ice accumulation on power lines. Ice accumulation on aircraft wings can also lead to serious operational issues.
According to scientists’ calculations, the current extinction rate is 4,000 times faster than during the age of dinosaurs, as every human impact leaves severe consequences for nature that are difficult to recover from. Overexploitation of resources without conservation has gradually diminished the life of the entire biosphere.
The Permian extinction event, which occurred 251 million years ago, wiped out over 90% of marine species and 70% of terrestrial species, resulting from the greenhouse effect that made the Earth hotter and faced it with relentless natural disasters. Even beneath the oceans, changing currents have erased many ecosystems, making life extremely fragile.
