
A frigid blast of winter weather across the US plunged Texas into an unusually icy emergency Monday that knocked out power to more than 2 million people, closed dangerously snowy and slick highways and put the delivery of new COVID-19 vaccine shipments on hold.
The energy crisis that crippled Texas's power system and sent energy prices soaring to record levels is deepening with at least four million people across the central USA taking turns being plunged into darkness to avoid a total collapse of their grids. "And so that is really the result that we're seeing", Woodfin said.
The cold blast is just the latest in a chain of extreme weather events that have brought down power grids and upended energy markets globally from Japan to Pakistan and France in recent months.
Wind generation ranks as the second-largest source of electricity in Texas, accounting for 23% of state power supplies past year behind natural gas, which served 45%, ERCOT estimates.
The state of Texas continued to reel under a deep freeze, leaving utilities scrambling to meet record power demand and forcing the state's grid operator to enforce rotating blackouts early on Monday. The outages began as controlled, rolling power cuts but have cascaded into prolonged blackouts in some areas.
Responding to a request from Governor Greg Abbott, President Joe Biden granted a federal emergency declaration for all 254 counties in the state on Sunday, authorising USA agencies to coordinate disaster relief from severe weather in Texas.
While temperatures are forecast to rise, the weather across the central US will remain extremely cold this week. She said she hadn't seen a serious snowfall in Dallas since her childhood. Oil production in the Permian Basin has dropped by 1 million barrels a day, helping USA crude prices to trade above $60 a barrel for the first time in more than year. "As each storm rolls in, more ice builds up on trees and power lines, that causes more and more trees and power lines to fall...as we fix one area, another area is impacted, and more repairs have to happen". Utilities there haven't had to carry out rolling blackouts since 2011.
For the first time all 254 counties are under a winter storm warning, while 1,600 flights have been cancelled.
"The southern plains are in a cold pattern", said David Roth, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center.
The spot price of electricity on the Texas power grid spiked more than 10,000 per cent on Monday, according to data on the grid operator's website.
List of priority populations for Phase 1 of Ontario's vaccine distribution plan
Indigenous adults in northern, remote and higher-risk communities, including on-reserve and urban communities. Adult recipients of chronic home care.
Trump clears second impeachment trial, vows to fight on
However, Johnson's message has been overshadowed by the newly-elected US President Joe Biden's decreasing faith in American democracy.
COVID-19 Vaccines To Arrive This Week
Earlier in the day, opposition health spokesman Mark Butler criticised the government for not rolling the vaccines out sooner. More than 142,000 doses had arrived at Sydney airport, the government said.
Biden administration opens gateway to 25,000 asylum seekers
The policy which is officially known as Migrant Protection Protocols was introduced in January 2019. It said there are approximately 25,000 active cases still.
Biden administration to begin admitting migrants forced to wait in Mexico
Administration officials declined to name them out of fear they may encourage a rush of people to those locations. He later sought funding from the U.S.
New Zealand On Alert As A Family Tests Positive For COVID-19
The UK varient that the family have is "highly transmissible and a fast-moving chain" which requires fast action, said Ardern. Ardern has been widely praised for her management of the pandemic, with New Zealand recording fewer than 2,000 infections.
Ontario announces who's next in line for COVID-19 vaccines
However, he also admitted concerns about the levels of vaccine uptake amongst some communities. The UK has reached its target of first Covid-19 vaccine doses to 15 million of its citizens.
Cuomo administration 'froze' over nursing home data requests
Sue Serino, the ranking member of the Senate Aging Committee said that hiding the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers for political reasons is "Albany's rock bottom".
Peak of major winter blast to begin across most of the country
This upcoming pattern for the next week is the type where I recommend being sure you have adequate ice melt on hand. Also by Monday morning, a heavy wintry mix will move across Houston into Louisiana and Mississippi.
Trump acquitted by Senate in second impeachment trial
Graham warned on " Fox News Sunday " that this will be used against Republicans as they try to retake control of Congress in 2022. McConnell manoeuvred through Trump's four years in office like a captain steering a ship through a rocky strait on stormy seas.
New Zealand will get first batch of coronavirus vaccines next week
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announcing the country's approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. She says it's a "good, timely reminder too, to everyone, please turn on the Bluetooth function and keep scanning".
Myanmar coup: Neighborhood groups block night arrests
The number of coup-linked detentions is now more than 200, according to monitor Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. They are sought under Article 505 (b) of the Penal Code, which criminalizes speech that can incite public panic or alarm.
Overdosing Nicotine: Should You Be Concerned? A lot of effort has been made to educate the public on the dangers of smoking, but most of the time, it has yielded no fruits. Symptoms of Nicotine Symptoms Though you may not get poisoned from vaping, one way or another, e-liquid may get to your skin.
6 SORE MUSCLES EASING REMEDIES THAT TRAINERS RELY ON Although no one enjoys the pain of muscle tears, many people find the final result worth the discomfort they experience. He then recommended that you should follow it up with low-intensity cardio routines, or a simple yoga session.
Latest News on the Global Online Gaming Industry The company is showing signs of making a comeback, as competitors are forced to merge and consolidate in order to survive. The industry can be broken down further between mobile gambling and desktop gambling (which includes laptops and PCs).