Six inches (15cm) of snow blanketed the city of Paris, France, last week in what was the heaviest snowfall event since 1987. Although a picturesque scene, it caused major disruption, with the Eiffel Tower being closed for multiple days due to the inability to salt the walkways without risking structural damage. Additionally, breaking a previous snowfall record set in 1957, Moscow was buried in more than 17 inches (43cm) of snow within a 24-hour period last week.
In far warmer but stormier climes, Tropical Cyclone Gita, which formed last Tuesday over the Wallis and Futuna Islands in the south-western Pacific, is continuing to intensify, with maximum wind speeds already in excess of 145mph. Continuing on its destructive path south-westwards, it has already swept through the Samoan Islands, inundating them in more than 16 inches (420mm) of rainfall within just four days.
Meanwhile, Cape Town, South Africa, continues to be plagued by severe drought. With the dry season running from April to October and with the water level at just 25.5%, the day is fast approachingwhen all residents will be rationed to just 25 litres (44 pints) of water a day from 11 May.
