Global Warming 2013 - 2014; This Could Be The Biggest Winter Storm Since January, 2011; Sweden Sets "Cold" Record; Mainstream Media Reports On US Propane Shortage

Finally, it's being reported by the mainstream media: the US propane shortage, as reported by USA Today.  Regular readers of the blog have known about the impending (and now existing) propane shortage since early 2012. From USA Today:

As meteorologists on Monday added up to 10 inches of snow to their frigid forecasts for the Northeast and Midwest this week, the regions are struggling with a lack of the essential resources residents need to keep warm.

Sand used to keep roads safe during snowstorms and ice buildup is running low in some states, as are the budgets to buy the sand and deploy trucks and plows. Propane stocks in many states have also hit disconcerting lows since the winter started with meager allowances and back-to-back cold spells have increased the energy dilemma for millions.

In anticipation of the cold and snow, Ohio Gov. John Kasich declared an energy emergency focused on expediting propane GAS shipments in order to mitigate tight supplies.

More than 14 million families across the U.S. use propane to fuel their furnaces, according to the Propane Education & Research Council.

Kasich followed the lead of officials in 17 other U.S. states — mostly in the Midwest and North — who declared energy emergencies and loosened rules for propane transportation from other states, most of which are effective until the end of January.

Interestingly, unless I missed it, nothing was said about the reason for the shortage of propane.

New York state continues to ban fracking.

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The Drudge Report headlines and links if worthwhile:

• thelocal is reporting new "severe cold" records --

The village of Karesuando, right at the very northern tip of Sweden, clocked the epic cold temperature during Sunday reports the Swedish weather agency SMHI. 

"It is also a seasonal record," said SMHI meteorologist Lars Unnerstad to the TT news agency. The recorded temperature of -41.2 was a record for that region which is right on the Finnish border.

Unnerstad added that he expected more cold records to break during the next 24 hours due to the high pressure, lack of wind and the continuing clear weather.

• AccuWeather is reporting:

Along the leading edge of the invading polar blast, accumulating snow will spread from the Midwest to the East Coast on Tuesday.

The snow will come courtesy of yet another Alberta Clipper set to drop through the Dakotas and Ohio Valley on Monday through Monday night with accumulations on the order of a coating to 2 inches.

The storm could rival the storm from early December in parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware.

According to Winter Weather Expert Brian Wimer, "For Washington, D.C., this could be the biggest storm since Jan. 26, 2011, when about 5 inches of snow fell."

• AccuWeather is reporting: dangerous cold heading back to the Midwest.