Germany’s no. 1 daily Bild (by circulation numbers) reports on the Killer Cold now paralyzing Europe and Asia, and calls it the worst in 25 years. The cold has hit Eastern Europe especially hard, with temperatures plummeting to -30°C throughout the Ukraine and Poland. So far the cold has claimed 139 lives, with 3 in Germany.
Europe's temperatures are forecast to remain 10°C or colder below normal - worst cold in 25 years.
Source: http://wxmaps.org/pix/temp4.html
Bild reports that in Rome, Italy, school was called off today because of the intense cold and the city expects 15 cm of snow overnight.
In Serbia, over 6 feet of snow have fallen over the last few weeks. In Turkey heavy snows have have blanketed much of the country, with 50cm falling in Istanbul on Wednesday.
At Atatürk-Flughafen in Istanbul 180 flights were cancelled.
According to the BBC: “In Italy, weather experts say it is the coldest week for 27 years.”
In the Urals and Siberia, the temperature fell to -40C while in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, a forecaster told Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency the wind-chill factor meant the real temperature was down to -52C, even though the air temperature was -35C.”
Gas and electricitry supply have collapsed in some areas, leaving many to shiver.
-39°C in Finland
Bild reported Thursday that a new cold record had been set in Finland: minus 39°C was recorded in Northern Finland.
In Eastern Germany, temperatures are forecast to plummet to minus 20°C in the days ahead. According to Helmut Malewski of the German Weather Service: “No warm-up is in sight for the coming 8 days.”
