Alaska bakes while American West sees huge snows as strange weather grips US


Kyle Fitzgerald
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Record-breaking temperatures and historic snowfalls are buffeting parts of the US, as states grapple with unusual winter weather and travellers' plans are thrust into chaos.

Alaska, which typically faces frigid temperatures and snowfall this year, has instead been hit with soaring temperatures and torrential rainfall.

Warm ocean waters north of Hawaii exacerbated a "heat dome" that delivered additional warmth to America's last frontier.

The island community of Kodiak set a new December high of 19C on Sunday afternoon, a state record, according to the Kodiak Tide Gauge Station. Kodiak Airport recorded a temperature of 18C, beating a previous December record set in 1984.

The soaring temperature also brought record rainfall in the state. Fairbanks experienced its wettest-ever day on record in December, with 23.6 centimetres of precipitation reported.

Meanwhile, after facing a historic summer drought earlier this year, parts of California are experiencing record-level snowfall.

The Central Sierra Snow Laboratory in northern California recorded nearly 5.2 metres of snow this month. Scientists say it is the snowiest December on record.

Snowfall is forecasted to continue in the Sierra Nevada mountains through Thursday, with additional rainfall and mountain snow expected to hit southern California.

The snowpack serves as a natural reservoir for California, and the Sierra snowpack accounts for 30 per cent of the state's fresh water supply for the year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Last winter the Sierra snowpack was at an alarmingly low level and the reservoirs are still below the historical average, CNN reported.

With more snow expected, officials said this month's snowfall should help the parched reservoirs.

The snowfall and freezing temperatures have also disrupted travel. Interstate 80, buried by snow and beset by fallen trees, was shut down on Sunday from the Nevada state line to Placer County.

Travellers in Seattle, Washington, are still facing hundreds of airline cancellations because of excessive snowfall and cold. More than 1,000 flights into and out of Seattle-Tacoma Airport have been cancelled and hundreds more delayed since Sunday, the Seattle Times reported. On Tuesday, nearly one-quarter of all flights were cancelled.

Temperatures in normally mild Seattle have fallen well below freezing. The National Weather Service said the low for the city on Monday was -8.3C, breaking a record set in 1968.

City officials have opened severe weather shelters in response to the frigid temperatures and the mayor declared an emergency.

Warming shelters have also been opened in Oregon. The state on Tuesday issued a weather warning for several counties as temperatures were expected to dip below freezing.

December's unusual weather capped a year in which the US experienced a slew of extreme weather events, including the hottest summer on record, the largest wildfire in California's history and destructive hurricanes and tornadoes.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

Fixtures and results:

Wed, Aug 29:

  • Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
  • Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
  • UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs

Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman

Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal

Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore

Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong

Thu, Sep 6: Final

The Perfect Couple

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor

Creator: Jenna Lamia

Rating: 3/5

Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

If you go

The Flights

Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Johannesburg from Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively. Economy return tickets cost from Dh2,650, including taxes.

The trip

Worldwide Motorhoming Holidays (worldwidemotorhomingholidays.co.uk) operates fly-drive motorhome holidays in eight destinations, including South Africa. Its 14-day Kruger and the Battlefields itinerary starts from Dh17,500, including campgrounds, excursions, unit hire and flights. Bobo Campers has a range of RVs for hire, including the 4-berth Discoverer 4 from Dh600 per day.

SCHEDULE

6.30pm Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 1,600m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 1,200m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh210,000 (D) 2,000m
9.25pm:Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,400m
 
Amith's predicted winners:
6.30pm: Down On Da Bayou
7.05pm: Etisalat
7.40pm: Mulfit
8.15pm: Pennsylvania Dutch
8.50pm: Mudallel
9.25pm: Midnight Sands

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 1
Alonso (62')

Huddersfield Town 1
Depoitre (50')

French business

France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.

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Updated: December 29, 2021, 4:41 PM