16th November - Today's News: Record Snowfall and High Temperatures in Alaska

In Valdez, first snow of the 2013 season breaks records whilst elsewhere in Alaska, schools closed, thousands in Fairbanks regions still without power due to winter storm - the storm also brought unusually high temperatures

And after some good snow fall, ski season starts early in the Alps - but no skiing in Scotland this weekend: last week's snow has largely melted ....  But there should be more in the week.

Massive hail buckets down on Queensland

2013 marked by record sea level, weather extremes: World Meteorological Organisation

And asteroids should be colonized or used as transports to planets, Russian scientists say - both ideas examined in the past by 'serious' science fiction writers (along with one other possible use - as extremely cheap and plentiful missiles with which aliens can bombard the Earth!)