Today is officially the shortest day of the year, and also the first day of winter. It certainly feels like it, with heavy snow showers affecting the north and east coasts of the UK, and further snow forecast to affect Suffolk and the southeast corner before the day is out. Ice is also a problem on untreated roads for travellers, as many begin their festive journeys across the UK to spend Christmas with their families.

With wintry conditions like these, it can cause disruption to our lifestyles, but imagine some other severe weather conditions around the globe at the moment.

First and foremost, in the Philippines, severe flooding has lead to mudslides with devastating consequences. More than 200 people are feared to have lost their lives already. Many villages have simply been swept away.

Although the rains here are dying away for the time being, it does look as though a tropical cyclone could develop in the Pacific Ocean in the next few days, which will then head towards the Philippines.

So further torrential rain and incredibly strong winds could once again tear through the islands, just about the time that may of us here in the UK will be in the throes of Christmas celebrations.

Winter storms have lead to power failure for 50 000 people in Stockholm, Sweden, during Sunday and today. Strong winds knocked out the power supply, and heavy snow also prevented air and rail transport from going ahead. Finland too suffered blizzard conditions, resulting in more than 80 separate traffic accidents during Sunday.

But it is really rather mild across much of Canada at the moment. It's also warming up in New England and the east coast of the USA. There was a sharp cold snap here last weekend, but now southerly winds are pushing up the temperatures once again.

So it looks as though New York is in for a Green Christmas after all. Rather like it will be here, as it goes, although it may not feel like that outside today!

Weather News from the last five days:
21/12/2003
20/12/2003
19/12/2003
18/12/2003
17/12/2003

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