For the past week, almost all of Europe, including places where snow was either never seen or rarely seen, is snowed in. Sub-zero temperatures, raging from -5 C near the sea to -38 C in Germany for example, caused a lot of challenges for citizens of Europe in coping with the elements.

One can ask, “OK, what is the big deal? Why are we surprised with the winter in winter? With snow in February?” This is true. But it is also true that the winter and amounts of snow we are now witnessing are not the usual winter scene, especially in Mediterranean countries, or on the islands that are normally known as ‘winter getaways’ without snow, and with average temperatures of 10-15 C.

So there seems to be an interesting tinge in the specific situation we are facing presently. Scientists are blaming the temporary European ‘ice age’ on the melting of the ice caps at the poles due to global warming.