Britain in grip of longest cold snap for 10 years - Telegraph

For this time of year, forecasters say it is likely to be the longest prolonged spell of cold weather - where temperatures barely rise above zero centigrade (32F) - since 1996.

Usually long spells of cold weather occur around February when the effect of warming from the Atlantic sea is reduced.

"We have another five to seven days of colder weather still to come which will make it the longest spell since 1996 at this early stage of winter," said Philip Eden, the Daily Telegraph weather correspondent.

Australia: Cool start to summer

BALLARAT has started summer under a cool cloud with temperatures up to 10 degrees below the monthly average.

And meteorologists do not expect the mercury to reach the 30s for a few days yet.
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Dr Stern said the cold snap was due to a strong high to the south of the bite, which would also cause snow on Victoria's Alpine National Park.

He said -3.7C was recorded at Mt Hotham yesterday, which was close to the state's record low of -3.9C for January.