24th December - Today's News

Needless to say, still no snow in Evesham, though again we do have icy pavements. Elsewhere though ...

Hundreds stranded as snow hits Liverpool John Lennon airport

Christmas snow brings Scotland to a standstill

Ryanair aircraft slides off runway at Prestwick airport

Black ice causes chaos on roads in Devon

Icy roads and freezing fog warning for Christmas Eve

Cold snap strikes normal life in northwest China

Flood waters drench city of Venice

23rd December - Today's News

Over the Christmas and New Year period I'll not be able to produce quite such a comprehensive round up of weather and related news, but I will update with the latest on the cold weather in the UK and any other major stories from elsewhere in the world.

Here in Evesham, the snow drought continues ...... but elsewhere, snow turns to ice in new threat to travellers, there's passenger's fury at airports as snow steals Christmas whilst a nicer story as stranded John Lewis shopper thanks staff - and at least one person showed that British common sense prevails. But, proving this is the 21st century and many other people are total arseholes, snow-trapped cars abandoned at pub are wheelclamped (those repsonsible should be stripped naked and tied to a tree overnight in the snow).

Up in Scotland, the cold snap brings north-east to a halt with many routes affected and in Cornwall coach crash kills two as icy roads cause travel chaos across Britain.

On the Continent there's anger across Europe as weather and strikes bring travel chaos as European weather deaths pass 100 (and it may well be much higher, since according to another report, winter freeze kills 79 in Poland alone),

And just to really cheer up those who don't like the current weather, the Daily Express - as ever - outdoes everyone claiming big freeze could grip Britain until March. To be fair, it does look like remaining cold for most through until 2010.

Over in the US, their big winter storm plods through West, Midwest and in Hawaii, wild weather hits Isles. Also, 4 dead in dust-storm pileups on I-10 in Arizona.

WA cleans up after cyclone wreaks havoc

Malawi declares quake disaster

22nd December - Today's News

More serious chaos on the roads (and airports) in England yesterday due to snow - and yet again we failed to see a single flake in Evesham. All eyes now on Christmas Eve with the risk of some nasty conditions developing across the Midlands - though snow more likely over the Cotswolds and further north than down here in the Vale. After that, further potential developments next week.

Snow hits Hampshire and Berkshire

Gatwick passengers beseige staff as snow wrecks getaway hopes

Thousands trapped in cars overnight due to snow and ice

From Eurostar: don't blame us, it was the wrong kind of snow

In Northern Ireland: weather playing havoc with Christmas travel

More than 80 dead in European winter weather

And in America, icy East wobbles back to its feet

Meanwhile, different weather problems down under as Cyclone Laurence strengthens over WA

Swiss court acquits geologist in earthquake trial

21st December - Today's News

Happy Solstice!

Still no snow in Evesham, though the surrounding hills are all nicely seasonal and white. And still no clear indications of whether anywhere we see a white Christmas - though latest suggestions are that for most it'll be a cold frosty start and thereafter a dry day, maybe turning milder from the SW later.

But the wintry conditions continue to dominate the weather news in the UK

Britain braced for more snow, but white Christmas 'unlikely'

Manchester airport suspends many flights due to snow

Heavy snow and icy roads bring chaos to Scotland

Snow brings travel and school problems in Wales

Snow snarls air, rail travel across Europe

And you think we have it bad? Try Washington for a whole winter's snow in one day - and as the Americans classify winter as starting on the 21st December (rather than the accepted meteorological definition of 1st December) that means for Philadelphia a winter's worth of snow, before winter. US East coast digs out from record snow.

Meanwhile in Chile, Santiago registers hottest spring temperature on record

Not good news from Copenhagen as forest plan gets ax an UN climate talks

In New Zealand, gales wreck havoc around south

Tornado fears as heavy wind kills three in western Turkey

Philippines volcano eruption likely soon

19th December - Today's News

Just a few flakes of snow in the end yesterday - nothing as yet on the ground here, but that looks likely to change overnight! Meanwhile, the temperature dropped to -6.5c in my garden this morning, which is the lowest temperature I've recorded in December since my records began in 2003. It may well be even colder over the coming nights.

Not surprisingly, the main news is again the wintry weather in Britain as snow causes second day of disruption and cold weather traps 2,000 on Channel Tunnel whilst the adverse weather claims a host of sporting fixtures. And it's not just here as severe cold weather hits Europe. Nice to see we're not the only ones to have problems with trains in cold weather!

New evidence confirms land warming record

Fog discovered on Saturn's largest moon, Titan

And in the US, storms flood Fla., bear snow for Mid-Atlantic

18th December - Today's News

Heavy overnight snow in parts of East Anglia and the SE - and as I watch the radar this morning there's a risk of some light stuff reaching here later.

So, kicking off with the latest news on how a few inches of white stuff brought parts of the country to a standstill:

Travellers hit by snow disruption

Snow strands passengers at Gatwick and Luton

Sussex snow: travel disruption

Suffolk in the grip of a Siberian blast

And for those who prefer a more tabloid angle on the weather: Davina stranded in car for eight hours but keeps twittering

And it's not just in Britain: there's early snow as cold snap hits Northwest Europe whilst further east Bulgaria covered by snow, more expected

Other news:

In Turkey, heavy storms, gales lash Antalya

Major winter storm aims for Washington

Lethal landslide in Peruvian Andes city of Ayacuho

And up in Arctic Canada, wacky warm spell comes to Iqaluit

Greenland glaciers: water flowing beneath ice plays more complex role

Climate change does not always lead to conflict

An interesting new study on human impacts on rainfall: irrigation decreases, urbanisation increases, monsoon rains

Colliding auroras produce an explosion of light

And for us 'nocty' fans: secrets of mysterious "night-shining clouds" unlocked by NASA's AIM satellite and models.

17th December - Today's News

Winter has arrived in Britain. London saw its first flakes of snow yesterday and from here on in most parts can expect some snow as well as sharp frosts and daytime temperatures at best only a few degrees above freezing. We could well see widespread snow cover in the run up to Christmas for, I think, the first time since 1981 - a winter I well remember. Whether it turns milder just before, over or just after Christmas Day remains to be seen. But it's no surprise the best available odds for a White Christmas anywhere are now 5/2 (compared with 8/1 last week). As the media report: hopes rising for a white Christmas - though I'd not believe anything that that Bren Jones guy says! hehehe!

Elsewhere:

Cyclone buffets Fiji, 4 killed

Glaciers in southern China receding rapidly whilst black soot choking Tibetan glaciers

Switzerland geologist on trial for causing eathquakes

I've not mentioned much on the Copenhagen Summit as it's mostly politics and all largely irrelevant anyway unless any meaningful deal is reached. However, this is the sort of think I've been hoping will come out of all the banquets, drinking, shopping ans whoring - though whether it'll be enough remains to be seen: climate talks near deal to save forests

Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms

In the US, schools, roads closed after heavy rain drenches South

Cyclone weakens after making landfall in Northwestern Australia