16th April - Today's News: Spring Storms Brings Record Snow to US Midwest

In the US there are four dead and 230 flights canceled: Spring storms move east after causing chaos in the Midwest by dumping two feet of snow

Thousands without power in Toronto Sunday night as icy blast hits southern Ontario whilst further west warm weather wreaks havoc as more highways flood across southern Alberta

 

Hawaii storm strands dozens at Red Cross evacuation shelter with over two feet of rain falling as Kauai sees record-setting rainfall over the weekend

There were record breaking April temperature in Dubrovnik – 30 degrees today!  That's the highest temperature the city has ever recorded in April.  And in Ukraine, more new temperature records set in Kyiv (Kiev).  Looks like turning rather hot here too this week.

Sydney fire: Passengers film flames as train drives through out-of-control blaze as expert warns more planning needed in wake of intense weekend conditions with the bush fire season now lasting much longer. 

Meanwhile, there were damaging winds, squally showers and huge dust storms as wintery front lashes SA

And, although I read it last week, for some reason I forgot to post this: Climate change dials down Atlantic Ocean heating system - it's a reason why global warming may mean some places actually get colder.  Much to the consternation and confusion of the denialists!   However it won't trigger a new ice age.  It's arctic Canada and Greenland that needs to get colder (and snowier) for that to happen.  Not Europe.   Nonetheless, it may be a factor in the shift from interglacial to glacial - and in particular, a cause of the Younger Dryas cold spell that occurred just as the world was warming after the last glacial....