– Snow closes airports, disrupts roads and rail
– Cold spell expected to continue in northern Europe
– Above average temperatures, drought in southern Europe
Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures disrupted road, rail and air transport in many parts of northern Europe on Wednesday while the Mediterranean island of Cyprus suffered in the heat after its driest November in more than a century.
Britain laboured under its worst early winter weather in almost two decades, with Edinburgh airport and London's Gatwick airport closed. Snow blanketed much of the country, causing delays on major roads and railway lines.
British gas and power prices soared on increased domestic consumption and demand for electrical power from neighbouring countries such as France and Belgium also hit by the cold.
"It's insane, there's a lot of panic," one gas market participant said. "If we have the smallest supply issue it's going to be worrisome."
Temperatures in parts of Germany reached a record -18 degrees Celsius for Dec. 1 and there has been heavy snowfall. Flights at Frankfurt airport, one of Europe's chief hubs, were disrupted.
Geneva airport was closed due to heavy snow and the city set up shelters overnight for 300 people stranded at the airport and main railway station.
Eurostar rail services between London and continental Europe were suffering delays of up to 30 minutes.
Britain, which last year had its coldest winter in 30 years, has not seen such widespread early snowfall since 1993.
The outlook for most of northern Europe is for continued cold weather.
WEATHER FRONTS "STUCK"
There was a markedly different picture, however, in southern Europe where Cyprus is experiencing temperatures in the upper 20s, some five degrees higher than the seasonal average.
"This November has been the driest since 1901. The average precipitation was zero," said Marios Theofilou of the Meteorological Service.
"The distribution of surface pressure systems won't allow a low pressure system to approach our area. It's stuck in northern Europe and won't come here," he said.
Across the Mediterranean, Israelis enjoyed T-shirt weather throughout November, wondering when winter would arrive as temperatures stuck stubbornly in the low to mid 30s Celsius.
It was also the driest November in 60 years, with rabbis praying for rain.
The water level in the Sea of Galilee, source of much of Israel's fresh water, is a meter below the red line. Forecasters say the dry spell will continue. On Wednesday, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem had blue skies with temperatures in the mid 20s.
In Italy, where heavy rains have caused severe flooding in some areas over recent days, the Civil Protection Authority warned of continuing heavy downpours.
Northern Italy saw major snowfalls on Wednesday, while in Rome, water levels on the Tiber have risen by a 110 cms in a single day following heavy rain. The river is close to overflowing in some areas.
