Coldest weather in US

US is experiencing extreme weather recently and recorded the coldest day in 20 years. This sounds familiar if you have ever watched the film The Day After Tomorrow. What is the threat to us?

Intense cold drives up energy demand and no doubt this will drive up the power bills. The Americans need to pay more for using more power and energy. Using more energy would mean emitting more greenhouse gas - carbon dioxide which would contribute global warming! 

The Cold also threatens produce - damaging crops from winter wheat to oranges as well as livestock! Though US is not a major producer or exporter on food, the damage would mean that the Americans need to import from elsewhere while at the same time reduce their domestic productivity, hence damage to their economy.  Facing the cold weather we certainly need food to replenish and stand at it.

Nevertheless, some companies may benefit from the extreme weather like having more business for the Grid or make a loss like the food producers. We may also watch out on the stock markets on how the extreme weather would affect the performance of different companies and trades, an area that would be interesting to study further!

(Twitter: @jennykyt)