18th January - Today's New: Tunisia is Snowier than Britain

Italy weather: Heavy snow grips earthquake region whilst social media turns white as Tunisia is blanketed in snow - though it's not as unusual and some might have you think.  Meanwhile Britain is almost bare of snow, even in the Highlands ..... 

Eastern Australia swelters under heatwave as hottest January on record looms

But in NZ, bomb low weather arrives in Wellington with 160kmh winds still on the way

Rome metro suspended as earthquake hits central Italy 

Chinese authorities tell local weather forecasters to stop issuing smog alerts

Aeolus wind mission heads for test and launch - when operational it should help improve weather forecasting with better data on wind speeds and direction

  

And a new model shows the inception of the last ice age in Eurasia - and why Siberia became a cold desert