Winter Storm Oaklee LIVE – At least 5 people die in freezing weather as thousands of flights canceled by snow and ice
AT LEAST five people have died in severe weather as a huge winter storm moving across the country continues into the Northeast.
has caused hazardous road conditions in many states, leading to several deaths including that of an infant.
In Missouri, four were left dead after crashes on icy roads Thursday and Friday.
In Kentucky, an 18-month-old died following a violent crash on an icy bridge. Hundreds of crashes have been reported across the US.
The storm is expected to bring snow, ice, and freezing rain from parts of the West all the way to the Northeast, according to the .
Although roads could be slick in the Tri-State region, the precipitation should transition to rain in the immediate New York City area through the weekend, the 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, reported.
Read our Winter Storm Oaklee path tracker for the latest news and updates...
Picking names
The Weather Channel chooses names for snowstorms and explained the process on its .
“The names will be used in alphabetical order to identify winter storms that meet objective naming criteria based on National Weather Service winter storm warnings, blizzard warnings, and ice storm warnings,” the outlet noted.
Who names snowstorms?
The names snowstorms.
The outlet noted that the 2021-22 season is the 10th season The Weather Channel will be naming winter storms.
Oaklee on Nancy's coattails
Oaklee follows Winter Storm Nancy, which shut down parts of three interstates in Minnesota and North Dakota on Tuesday, bringing snow and ice from the Upper Plains to the Midwest.
If you can’t find cover parking
Lifting the wipers of your car will make it easier to scrape your windshield after the snowstorm.
It can also prevent your wiper blades from freezing to the windshield.
However, if you forget to lift up your wipers, it will not cause any damage.
Before the storm hits, continued
If you have any chargers, purses, garage openers, or keys in your car, you will want to take them out.
Finally, lock your vehicle. This seems simple, but it is easily forgotten.
You will be away from your vehicle for an extended period, so it doesn’t hurt to double-check that you have locked it.
What to do before the storm hits
Winter storms can last for days, and it’s never good to leave a car dirty for an extended period of time.
Acidic material could eat away at your paint, and car covers could rub dirt around the clearcoat and make scratches.
So if you know a winter storm is coming, it is a good idea to clean it off quickly, before you park it somewhere safe for the duration of the storm.
After you have washed your vehicle, collect any belongings that you might need over the next few days out of your car.
Storing your car during a snowstorm
If you don’t have a covered parking spot, you can ask a friend or a family member if they have an extra one.
Perhaps you know someone who has a two- or three-car garage.
If you don’t know anyone who has an extra covered parking spot, you can put your car in storage.
On average, it costs about $45 to put a standard vehicle in storage for a day.
However, rates can vary depending on the facility that you choose.
What is a nor'easter?
A nor'easter is a storm that forms along North America's East Coast. Nor'easters get their name from the direction in which the strongest winds blow over the northeastern states, including New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Nor'easters begin to form within 100 miles of the coast that stretches between New Jersey and Georgia.
This area is a perfect spot for the formation of storms. The polar jet stream blows cold air southward out of Canada and eastward toward the ocean.
What are considered 'blizzard conditions'?
Not every storm is considered to be a blizzard.
There are three conditions that must be met for a storm to be considered a blizzard.
Snow must combine with winds over 35 miles per hour.
On top of that, visibility must be less than a quarter-mile.
These conditions must last for more than three hours.
Where do 'bomb cyclones' occur?
“Bomb” cyclones occur most frequently along coastlines where warm water is.
The warm water creates a strong temperature gradient from its surface to the atmosphere just above it.
Snow shoveling hack: cooking spray
In a surprising hack, a handyman using the cooking spray you have in your kitchen to speed up the process.
Wet snow can be too heavy to pick up with your shovel, making this cold winter chore even more unenjoyable.
The handyman recommended spraying this kitchen staple on your shovel to help quickly move through the snow.
The spray will prevent heavy snow from sticking to your shovel and will save you from having to stop and clear it out in between piles.
Before storing the shovel back in the garage, he suggested wiping it down with a towel to avoid any mess.
What is a winter weather warning?
A winter weather warning indicates that a storm is more than likely in your area, and you should take action immediately.
Expect dangerous conditions and try to avoid travel.
What is a winter weather watch?
A winter weather watch indicates that there is potential for severe winter weather.
If a winter weather watch is issued, prepare for dangerous weather conditions.
What is a winter weather advisory?
A winter weather advisory is an indication that winter weather conditions are likely.
However, the conditions expected are not severe enough to warrant a warning.
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 1-year-old to 102 years old.
Nearly two-thirds of the deaths were due to hyperthermia, the reported.
Staying safe in winter weather
In a video posted to Twitter, 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
Be gentle with frostbitten skin
In a video, 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.
Drink water to stay safe
Drinking water in the winter is vital to your safety, The Weather Channel explained.
"You can still get dehydrated in the winter," the outlet said in a video, 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 in the summer months.
"Drink more water, especially when exercising outside," The Weather Channel advised.
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.
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.
Don't seek refuge in your car
Even though it may function as a temporary shelter from a winter storm, you should avoid waiting out winter conditions in your car.
"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.
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 explains.
"Snow and slush buildup around the pipe can block the exhaust and cause carbon monoxide poisoning."
Three killed during Winter Storm Kenan
At least three people died while Winter Storm Kenan slammed the east coast in January.
reported that an elderly man died after falling into a swimming pool while shoveling snow.
An elderly woman was found dead in her car in the parking lot of a Marriott hotel, according to Nassau County police.
And, as previously reported, SUNY college student Tyler Lopresti-Castro was found dead near the Silas Lane Bus Garage in New York by two city employees, according to the Oneonta Police Department.
Why joint pains can signal rain
Damp weather does seem to make joint pain and osteoarthritis worse.
While there is no conclusive evidence to explain this, it may be due to pressure receptors (baroreceptors) in the joint sensing the drop in atmospheric pressure when the weather changes from dry to rainy.
The level of fluid in the joint then fluctuates in response to these changes, which might trigger pain in the nerves.
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.
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.