In my opinion, yesterday was unbelievably cold. The sort of weather that cuts right through you regardless of a hat and gloves, and by the looks of it, the cold theme is set to stay for a few days yet...and maybe snow...

Snow has certainly been the theme in Canada recently. I know that we have been updating you on the situation in Nova Scotia where the snowfalls have jammed roads and runways with an estimated 90cm (35inches) in some areas. Yesterday it was forecast that Halifax could exceed previous record totals of snowfall, and indeed it did, blowing away the one-day snowfall record of 51cm (20inches) set in 1944.

Records were not the only thing to be blown away with 100km (60mph) winds pushing the snow into huge drifts, forcing power lines to crash down and in some areas the combination of the high tides and a storm surge caused minor flooding.

A storm warning for heavy snow has been issued for Sochi near the southeast corner of the Black Sea in Russia. The snow level could reach 25-30cm according to the meteorological centre in Krasnodar. Mountainous areas are under particular scrutiny as avalanches may occur, especially as there has been a lot of wet snow, the depth in Goryachy Klyuch being almost 40cm.

Winter has its problems, and of course so does Summer.

In the Southern Hemisphere it is indeed summer-time although not as if you would think it with the ongoing flooding situation in the south of the North Island of New Zealand. Australia however, is set for a heat wave.

Temperatures in Brisbane, Queensland are forecast to soar up to 41 Celsius (105F) this weekend which is likely to break the city's record set in 1925. Sydney is also expecting temperatures around the 40 Celsius mark. As a result, public health warnings have been issued and free entry into local swimming pools has been ordered in anticipation of the heat, although the temperatures are set to temper into next week.

And finally, all is not sunny in the world of football. It was reported earlier that due to the winter weather bringing snow and high winds across much of northern and central Spain, Real Madrid soccer team trained this morning in sleet, but I suppose then at least one of its players will feel right at home.

Weather News from the last five days:
20/02/2004
19/02/2004
18/02/2004
17/02/2004
16/02/2004

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