A powerful polar vortex has plunged temperatures across the Rockies and Northern Plains, with wind chills hitting minus 51°C in North Dakota. Extreme cold warnings are in effect from Canada to Texas as Arctic air sweeps southward.

Polar vortex freezes Rockies and plains with Arctic blast

Following an exceptionally warm summer, the iconic ice of the Canadian Rockies is melting at a rate that has never been seen before.

As observed by scientists, during the hot spell in early July and late June the glacier was experiencing 2/3 of ice melt per week.

Hydrologist and director of Global Water Futures Dr John Pomeroy say that it is harrowing to observe that the iconic sight was virtually unrecognizable from what was one&nbsp;or two years ago.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-northernmost-island-discovered-off-coast-of-greenland-by-scientists-409007" hreflang="en">‘World’s northernmost island’ discovered off coast of Greenland by scientists</a>

According to him, the glacier could lose up to seven metres of ice if this rate of melt continues, which would be the most drastic downward melt ever recorded for the glacier.

During the early 1900s, Banff National Park's famous Peyto Glacier stretched three and a half kilometres farther than it does today;&nbsp;stretching down the valley resting near the turquoise water of Peyto Lake.&nbsp;

Pomeroy said he was astonished and horrified by the glacial tongue's retreat of 200 metres over the past year, 10 times faster than the 50-year retreat. According to him&nbsp;widespread wildfires and record heat domes this season contributed to faster glacial melting.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-says-ocean-surface-climates-may-disappear-by-2100-408799" hreflang="en">Study says ocean surface climates may disappear by 2100</a>

Peyto Glacier forms the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River and with its snowpack and ice melt, it maintains stream flows in the Prairie provinces.

Scientists are concerned about the downstream effects of the decline of this crucial source of water.

This year, the rivers and streams that aren't fed by glacial melt are experiencing some of the lowest flows ever recorded. By contrast, the flow of streams that are fed by the glacier has been above average this summer.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-dead-multiple-injured-in-sweltering-aftermath-of-hurricane-ida-409820" hreflang="en">Four dead, multiple injured in sweltering aftermath of Hurricane Ida</a>

In the Rocky Mountain national parks alone, 300 glaciers disappeared between 1920 and 2005, according to Sanford.

Pomeroy, who has been documenting Peyto&nbsp;for years, says that he never imagined that he would document the glacier's death; he believes it will not survive the next decade.

However, he adds, glaciers might re-grow in the future, provided that humans are able to get a hold on climate change.

Following an exceptionally warm summer, the iconic ice of the Canadian Rockies is melting at a rate that has never been seen before. As observed by scientists, during the hot spell in early July and late June the glacier was experiencing 2/3 of ice melt per week.

Following an exceptionally warm summer, the iconic ice of the Canadian Rockies is melting at a rate that has never been seen before. As observed by scientists, during the hot spell in early July and late June the glacier was experiencing 2/3 of ice melt per week. Hydrologist and director of Global Water Futures Dr John Pomeroy say that it is harrowing to observe that the iconic sight was virtually unrecognizable from what was one or two years ago. Also read | ‘World’s northernmost island’ discovered off coast of Greenland by scientists According to him, the glacier could lose up to seven metres of ice if this rate of melt continues, which would be the most drastic downward melt ever recorded for the glacier. During the early 1900s, Banff National Park's famous Peyto Glacier stretched three and a half kilometres farther than it does today; stretching down the valley resting near the turquoise water of Peyto Lake. Pomeroy said he was astonished and horrified by the glacial tongue's retreat of 200 metres over the past year, 10 times faster than the 50-year retreat. According to him widespread wildfires and record heat domes this season contributed to faster glacial melting. Also read | Study says ocean surface climates may disappear by 2100 Peyto Glacier forms the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan River and with its snowpack and ice melt, it maintains stream flows in the Prairie provinces. Scientists are concerned about the downstream effects of the decline of this crucial source of water. This year, the rivers and streams that aren't fed by glacial melt are experiencing some of the lowest flows ever recorded. By contrast, the flow of streams that are fed by the glacier has been above average this summer. Also read | Four dead, multiple injured in sweltering aftermath of Hurricane Ida In the Rocky Mountain national parks alone, 300 glaciers disappeared between 1920 and 2005, according to Sanford. Pomeroy, who has been documenting Peyto for years, says that he never imagined that he would document the glacier's death; he believes it will not survive the next decade. However, he adds, glaciers might re-grow in the future, provided that humans are able to get a hold on climate change.

Heatwave causes unprecedented glacial ice melt in Canadian Rocky Mountains

A glacier-viewing bus overturned on Saturday at a popular tourist spot in the Canadian Rockies, killing three people and seriously injuring several others, news reports said.

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The all-terrain vehicle rolled off the road near the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, Alberta, national broadcaster CBC said.

Photos published by media outlets show the upturned red-and-white bus, equipped with monster-truck style tires for crossing ice, on a rocky slope below the road across the glacier's&nbsp;moraine.

The bus lost control and rolled down the hill, witness Vanja Krtolica told the Globe and Mail.

"All of a sudden, everybody started screaming because they saw the coach lose control," said Krtolica, who was on a similar bus.&nbsp;

"It was careening down that 33 degree ... steep hill and lost control," he told the newspaper.

The bus was owned by Pursuit, a company which takes tourists on sight-seeing trips to the Athabasca Glacier, which is one of the "toes" of the Columbia Icefield, CBC said.

Of the 27 passengers on board, "three adults were confirmed deceased, along with a number of other passengers critically injured," the Jasper Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, quoted by Global News.

The injured were transported by helicopter from the remote site and then by air and ground ambulances to hospitals in the region, television reports said.

The accident occurred in one of the most popular tourist areas in western Canada along the scenic Icefields Parkway that runs through Banff and Jasper national parks.

A glacier-viewing bus overturned on Saturday at a popular tourist spot in the Canadian Rockies, killing three people and seriously injuring several others, news reports said.

A glacier-viewing bus overturned on Saturday at a popular tourist spot in the Canadian Rockies, killing three people and seriously injuring several others, news reports said. Also read: China raises flood alert levels along Huai River The all-terrain vehicle rolled off the road near the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, Alberta, national broadcaster CBC said. Photos published by media outlets show the upturned red-and-white bus, equipped with monster-truck style tires for crossing ice, on a rocky slope below the road across the glacier's moraine. The bus lost control and rolled down the hill, witness Vanja Krtolica told the Globe and Mail. "All of a sudden, everybody started screaming because they saw the coach lose control," said Krtolica, who was on a similar bus. "It was careening down that 33 degree ... steep hill and lost control," he told the newspaper. The bus was owned by Pursuit, a company which takes tourists on sight-seeing trips to the Athabasca Glacier, which is one of the "toes" of the Columbia Icefield, CBC said. Of the 27 passengers on board, "three adults were confirmed deceased, along with a number of other passengers critically injured," the Jasper Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a statement, quoted by Global News. The injured were transported by helicopter from the remote site and then by air and ground ambulances to hospitals in the region, television reports said. The accident occurred in one of the most popular tourist areas in western Canada along the scenic Icefields Parkway that runs through Banff and Jasper national parks.

Three dead after glacier tour bus rolls over in Canada

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