Reply #18: There are definitely a lot of extremes

[bloom]

I don't think people really know....



Said Portugal had it's first snow in 50 years. Seems like they had a abnormal heat wave last summer. ->


http://www.wmo.ch/index-en.html

First snow in Portugal in more than 50 years

During the last weekend of January 2006, central and southern parts of Portugal experienced their first snow in more than 50 years.

See METEOSAT image (right), courtesy of EUMETSAT and:
http://www.eumetsat.int/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=
005199&l=en&ssTargetNodeId=115

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(source: Japan Meteorological Agency)

Snow continues to blanket areas of Japan

On 5 February, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the amount of snow piled in Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture, surpassed 4 m for the first time since official observations began in the city (1989). In January, the harsh weather conditions prompted the JMA to issue early warnings for snowfall, landslides, flooding and avalanches.

Officials in Japan have reported the snow- and cold-related deaths of some 118 people since the onset of winter, which has so far proved to be the country’s deadliest in two decades. Massive snowfalls have been recorded around the country with drifts reaching record heights in some cases. Victims included those who died when their roofs collapsed under the weight of the snow or who fell trying to clear them.