LONDON, England -- Gale force winds and heavy downpours hammered northern Europe, killing 27 people and disrupting travel for tens of thousands.
The storms on Thursday were among the fiercest to batter northern Europe in years, ripping off part of the roof at Lord's Cricket Ground in London, toppling trucks on Europe's busiest highway and forcing trains in Germany and the Netherlands to a virtual standstill.
By evening, as wind speeds subsided, weather related accidents had killed 27 people, including a 2 year-old boy hit by falling brick from a crumpled wall in London.
Earth Changes
WARSAW - Winds of more than 200 kph tore into Poland and the Czech Republic, uprooting trees and tearing down power lines after leaving a trail of damage across northern Europe that has killed at least 27 people.
Germany and Britain faced further disruptions to rail and air travel on Friday after high winds left thousands of households without electricity.
Germany and Britain faced further disruptions to rail and air travel on Friday after high winds left thousands of households without electricity.
Near Hurrican Force Storm Batters Baltic States - 2nd time in 2 years for "once in a lifetime event"
Winds of near-hurricane force struck the Baltic states on Sunday night, causing widespread damage and leaving thousands without electricity.
In Latvia, up to 50,000 people were left without power by winds gusting up to 115 kilometres per hour - almost hurricane speed. Flooding threatened many low-lying areas, including the capital, Riga, where the river Daugava surged two metres above normal levels.
In Latvia, up to 50,000 people were left without power by winds gusting up to 115 kilometres per hour - almost hurricane speed. Flooding threatened many low-lying areas, including the capital, Riga, where the river Daugava surged two metres above normal levels.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Hurricane-force winds and rain lashed northern Europe on Thursday, disrupting air, rail and sea travel for thousands, toppling trees and construction cranes, and killing 11 people, including a 2-year-old boy crushed by a collapsed wall in London.
The wind whisked bicycles and trash cans off the streets of Amsterdam and tossed into its fabled canals. A ship was blasted loose from its moorings near Rotterdam into an oil pipeline.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's plane landed in gusts of up to 80 mph in London for a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair after she cut short a visit to Berlin to avoid the worsening weather.
The wind whisked bicycles and trash cans off the streets of Amsterdam and tossed into its fabled canals. A ship was blasted loose from its moorings near Rotterdam into an oil pipeline.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's plane landed in gusts of up to 80 mph in London for a meeting with Prime Minister Tony Blair after she cut short a visit to Berlin to avoid the worsening weather.
BERLIN (AFP) - The British Isles and Germany were battered by a severe storm front packing gale-force winds that left one man dead in northwest England, with forecasters predicting worse to come.
Winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour ripping through western and central Germany, moving eastwards.
Winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour ripping through western and central Germany, moving eastwards.
Australia's long drought is forcing snakes out of hiding and into urban areas this summer, with experts warning snakebites are more likely.
The drought has forced snakes to move to urban areas looking for moisture, prompting a caution to people to be careful around creeks, waterways and long grass.
The drought has forced snakes to move to urban areas looking for moisture, prompting a caution to people to be careful around creeks, waterways and long grass.
WASHINGTON, D.C. and LONDON, ENGLAND - The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) is moving the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock two minutes closer to midnight. It is now 5 minutes to midnight. Reflecting global failures to solve the problems posed by nuclear weapons and the climate crisis, the decision by the BAS Board of Directors was made in consultation with the Bulletin's Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel Laureates.
Santa Clarita, California -- Snow fell on the palm trees of West Los Angeles and Malibu Wednesday afternoon as Jack Frost visited the Southland again.
NBC4 forecaster Fritz Coleman said the mixture of precipitation in West Los Angeles at about 3 p.m. included a dusting of snow. Residents in West Los Angeles said the snow accumulated in parking lots, on cars and around palm trees near Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards and other areas.
NBC4 forecaster Fritz Coleman said the mixture of precipitation in West Los Angeles at about 3 p.m. included a dusting of snow. Residents in West Los Angeles said the snow accumulated in parking lots, on cars and around palm trees near Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards and other areas.
Comment: The photogallery provides some quite impressive contrasts and, at the very least, makes a stark visual statement about our changing climate.
Chrysler's chief economist Van Jolissaint has launched a fierce attack on "quasi-hysterical Europeans" and their "Chicken Little" attitudes to global warming.
His attack is in sharp contrast to the green image that the US car companies have been trying to promote at this year's Detroit Motor Show.
Mr Jolissaint was speaking at a private breakfast where the chief economists of the "Big Three" US car firms presented their forecasts for auto industry sales this year.
Most of the audience - which was mainly made up of parts suppliers - seemed to nod in agreement with Mr Jolissaint.
Neither Ford's chief economist Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, nor General Motors' chief economist Mustafa Mohatarem, who were on the panel with Mr Jolissaint, questioned his assertion.
His attack is in sharp contrast to the green image that the US car companies have been trying to promote at this year's Detroit Motor Show.
Mr Jolissaint was speaking at a private breakfast where the chief economists of the "Big Three" US car firms presented their forecasts for auto industry sales this year.
Most of the audience - which was mainly made up of parts suppliers - seemed to nod in agreement with Mr Jolissaint.
Neither Ford's chief economist Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, nor General Motors' chief economist Mustafa Mohatarem, who were on the panel with Mr Jolissaint, questioned his assertion.
Comment: A large car corporation that has a lot to gain from the continued sale of large cars claims that global warming does not exist. A less objective source would be hard to find. Read Laura's recent editorial "Fire and Ice - The Day After Tomorrow" for the real deal.
Comment: Still optimistic?