Extreme Temperatures
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Snowflake

Amazing amounts of March snowfall at ski resorts across western North America - 5 meters for Squaw Valley, California

Heavenly Ski Resort
Heavenly Ski Resort
They're calling it the 'March miracle' in the US as - after a dry warm winter in the West and a dry warm February (after a snowy start to the winter there) in the East - it now seems that it won't stop snowing!

It's the West and California that is having the most amazing snowfall once gain. At Squaw Valley there's now been 5 metres of snow since the start of March, two metres of that falling in 48 hours at the end of last week. So cover is looking exceptional for the spring skiing period.


Comment: Meanwhile across the Atlantic: Huge snowfalls for March at ski resorts in Spain


Snowflake

On the second day of spring a nesting bald eagle is caught on camera buried in snow in Hays, Pittsburgh

Bald eagle buried in snow
Bald eagle buried in snow
Neither snow nor rain nor ... more snow stopped the Pittsburgh Hays bald eagle from tending to her two eggs Wednesday.

A live webcam caught the eagle seemingly buried in snow while incubating eggs that are expected to hatch today or in the next week, according to Rachel Handel, spokeswoman for the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania.

The Pittsburgh winter doesn't stop the nesting progress of these birds.

The once endangered raptor is quite hardy and acclimated to the snow and cold with the nation's largest population living in Alaska.

Comment: Also in Pennsylvania but further east at the Codorus State Park the following video recording was recently taken:
Mounting snow is burying the bald eagle sitting on eggs in the nest at Codorus State Park near Hanover that is monitored by a livestreaming webcam through the Pennsylvania Game Commission website.




Snowflake

Spain, Germany and Romania blanketed with snow and ice as the spring gets off to freezing start in Europe (PHOTOS)

Snow fell across large parts of Europe on Tuesday despite it being the first official day of spring. Spain was particularly badly affected, with snow and ice warnings in force for much of the north, including in Vitoria, in Basque country (pictured)
Snow fell across large parts of Europe on Tuesday despite it being the first official day of spring. Spain was particularly badly affected, with snow and ice warnings in force for much of the north, including in Vitoria, in Basque country (pictured)
Snow fell across large parts of Europe on Tuesday as the continent remained in the grip of cold weather despite it being the first official day of spring.

The Spanish islands of Menorca and Majorca saw a dusting of flakes as seven regions across the north of the country were put under snow and ice warnings and dozens of schools were closed in Catalonia.

Snow also fell across the majority of Germany with Berlin particularly badly affected. Temperatures in the city were not set to rise above 3C.

In Croatia, melting snow and ice has caused record flooding around the capital Zagreb while flakes continue to fall further to the east.

According to authorities, the Sava river had reached record water levels, surpassing the previous record by four inches.


The flooding has meant that residents are refusing to leave their properties, resulting in supplies being taken to them by emergency crews.


Snowflake

Winter in Switzerland makes March comeback

snow
It's a case of "now you see me, now you don't" as the Swiss spring takes a break in the north of the country.

After a snowy weekend in some places, much of Switzerland is set for a cold and grey start to this week with maximum temperatures in the north of the country only just above freezing.

While Geneva can expect to bask in a decidedly more spring-like maximum temperature of 8C on Monday, in Zurich, Bern and Basel the mercury is set to top out at 3C. Meanwhile, in St Gallen it will be a decidedly cold -1C.

There isn't much relief in sight either: weather in the north of Switzerland is expected to remain on the chilly side until the weekend. Night time temperatures will be between -3C and -6C up until Friday. On the plus side, skies should brighten from Tuesday onwards.

Snowflake

Idaho ski resorts receive late winter dollop of snow - up to 18 inches in 24 hours

Brundage has plenty of fresh powder after a winter storm dropped more than a foot of new snow on the mountain this weekend.
© Photo: Brundage MountainBrundage has plenty of fresh powder after a winter storm dropped more than a foot of new snow on the mountain this weekend.
The official start of spring is just a couple days away, but several Idaho ski resort are reporting prime winter skiing conditions after a storm dropped a big helping of fresh snow on the mountain this weekend.

Brundage Mountain received 18 inches of snow in just over 24 hours, the resort said in a news release on Sunday.

"This was a nice surprise and nicely timed," said resort spokesperson, April Whitney. "The forecast had us hoping for six inches and to get a foot and a half of light, January-style powder is always a pleasant surprise."

Brundage Mountain now has a snowbase ranging from 65 to 99 inches.


Info

Is the world headed for a food crisis? (VIDEO)

Freeze damage on sizing blueberries
Freeze damage on sizing blueberries
What does a reduction in sunspots mean for crop yield?

15 Mar 2018 - "What you are about to witness is mind-blowing," says Diamond of the Oppenheimer Ranch Project. "Yesterday on AgDay two analysts discuss the coming Grand Solar Minimum and associated crop losses and global famine as if it were a passing fad."


Sun

Hottest autumn day in 78 years hits Sydney, Australia

Record high temps in Australia
© WeatherzoneThis map shows the extraordinary temperatures forecast for NSW on Sunday
Sydney has sweltered through its hottest autumn day in 78 years, with temperatures soaring past 40C on Sunday.

The mercury hit 40.5C at Sydney Airport in the city's inner-south, a staggering 16C higher than the average March temperature of 24C.

Even the eastern beaches saw temperatures as high as 39C as north-westerly winds counteracted any sea breeze.

Weatherzone meteorologist Graeme Brittain told Daily Mail Australia the scorching temperatures were 'highly unusual'.

Mr Brittain said wind gusts in excess of 90km tore through the New South Wales coastline, but brought little reprieve from the heat.

He warned temperatures would likely remain high overnight.

Sunbathers flocked to Sydney's beaches on Sunday amid the sweltering autumn heatwave.

Bondi beach was packed with revellers in search of some relief from the scorching hot temperatures.

Comment: Meanwhile around 31 grassfires have swept across Victoria, Australia.


Snowflake Cold

Coldest March 17th in the Netherlands since records began

netherlands cold
© Sjef Kenniphaas
Saturday was the coldest March 17th in the Netherlands since records began. According to Weeronline, at the weather station in the Dutch district De Bilt, the daytime temperature was below zero.

The lowest maximum temperatures were measured in the provinces Flevoland, Gelderland, and Overijssel. At the weather station Hupsel in the area Achterhoek, the maximum daytime temperature was -0.7 °C. Due to the strong east to northeast wind, the wind chill factor was around -5 °C to -10 °C.

A temperature slightly above zero was however measured in some areas of the Netherlands. Accompanying the cold, a light snowfall hit the southern part of the country.

Arrow Down

Building collapses under weight of snow in downtown Edmundston, Canada

A snow-heavy building used for storage collapsed in Edmundston early Friday morning.
© Bernard Lebel/Radio-CanadaA snow-heavy building used for storage collapsed in Edmundston early Friday morning.
A downtown building that's been part of Edmundston for at least 115 years collapsed early Friday, and city police say it was probably because too much snow had piled up on its flat roof.

Insp. Alain Lang of the Edmundston police said there were no injuries, and no one was near the empty building when it came down around 4 a.m.

The building at Church and Hill streets is owned by Downtown Edmundston, which used it for storing tents chairs, tables and other equipment for a farmers market.

She said the building was initially bought in 2012 and was supposed to be bought to be a tear down and rebuild a farmers market with that lot and the two next to it.


Comment: See also: Another roof collapses due to snow weight in Nakusp, British Columbia - 200 inches of snow in some areas this year


Snowflake

Heavy snowfall disrupts traffic in northeast China

Workers remove snow from train tracks at Shenyang North Railway Station in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province, March 15, 2018.
© XinhuaWorkers remove snow from train tracks at Shenyang North Railway Station in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning province, March 15, 2018.
More than 4,800 people have been deployed to clear roads after heavy snow hit northeast China's Liaoning province starting Wednesday night, causing flight delays and expressway closures.

As of 11:00 a.m. Thursday, about 868 pieces of snow clearing equipment were put into use to remove snow from roads.

Snowstorms hit most parts of the province Wednesday evening, and snow was still falling Thursday, the provincial meteorological bureau said.

The bureau issued warnings in 12 cities to watch out ice on streets.