Muscovites Await Winter - At Least 5 All-Time High Temps For December Set This Month - Scotsman

[hatrack]

ACROSS the northern hemisphere - from Moscow to Canada - people are asking the same question: where's the winter? In the latest worrying signs of climate change, it is already proving to be the least snowy winter for 350 years in Lapland.

And in Moscow, at least five days so far this month have been the warmest ever recorded for December; instead of the temperature dropping daily to at least minus 10C, it is still hovering at around 6C.

The harsh Russian winter has a special place in this country's history, credited with halting the invading armies of both Napoleon and Hitler. Had the French or German armies attacked in similar conditions to 2006's, history might have been significantly different. There's a similar pattern emerging across much of the northern hemisphere, with unseasonably warm temperatures and little snow to report, much to the anguish of ski resorts in Europe.

EDIT

Muscovites appear to be among the most put out by the mild weather, saying they prefer the crisp dry cold and the bright white snow to the wet, grey weather that currently sits heavily on the Russian capital. They began to pay attention when 7 December experienced a record high, with a temperature of 7.5C beating the previous best of 6.6C set in 1895. Since then, there have been similar statistics almost every day. If there is one city where it is still ultra-fashionable to wear furs, it's Moscow, but so far this winter, the glamorous minks are still tucked away in the closet.

EDIT

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=1860982006

[bluerum]

1. Shouldn't that be Muscovites avaite vinter? nt

[Captain Hilts]

2. Moscow is VERY dreary without snow. nt