Saturday, February 4, 2012

Lowest Temperatures in 60 years experienced in Russia and Europe

Freezing Siberian Winds Boost Europe Power Prices, Hit Crops

As I read more articles about more and more people dying it didn't at first make sense to me until I read that these are the lowest temperatures in 60 years. The next fact that ties into this is that Russia for whatever its reasons is limiting Gasprom's output through the Ukraine to Ukraine and Eastern Europe. So, likely this is also increasing the amount of deaths. Since populations likely have grown a lot in the last 60 years there likely isn't as much wood to burn and likely utilities are overextended in various areas. So because of all these factors and the worldwide Great Recession and lack of jobs many people are freezing to death. The 50 deaths in Japan were mostly people falling off their roofs while clearing them of snow before their roofs collapsed, but likely their heavy snow event of 12 feet or more and the Eastern Europe snow and temperature drop are related and from Siberia. 

The 16 feet of snow in Eastern Europe likely will cause even more deaths because of all these problems coming together at once.

If you have ever lived in snow even one foot of snow can stop a non-all wheel drive or 4 wheel drive vehicle. And two to 3 feet of snow stops anything but a snowmobile or a Snow Cat or cross country skis or Snow Shoes(or very hearty young people willing to trudge through 3 or more feet of new fallen snow. When this happens if no snow removal equipment is available in your area, likely most vehicles aren't moving at all until they are available or until the snow melts which could be months. So, because of the areas this is happening to and because remote villages in these areas are mostly older retired people one has to expect many more deaths before this is over.

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