As Europe shivers through a protracted cold spell, it is interesting to note which cities around the continent have had to endure the coldest days. Of course we are all affected by the chilly weather, but the local media coverage of wintry weather bears no relation at all to the absolute conditions. Our table below shows data from various airports across Europe, all close to major towns. It shows the number of days this winter (going back to autumn 2009), up to and including yesterday, on which the temperature has not once risen above freezing (viz. zero degrees Celsius):

One interesting aspect of the wintry weather have been the considerable variations in temperatures over relatively short distances. At midday yesterday, the temperature in Alnaharra in the Scottish Highlands was a numbing minus sixteen degrees Celsius. On the coast at Wick in Caithness, just a short distance away, it was a balmy plus four degrees Celsius.

Of course this is not to minimise the genuine worry that many elderly folk in London have had this past week or two. People do worry about getting about in icy conditions and how to pay heating bills. But the media frenzy in Britain (and here we think in particular of the London based newspapers) would have one believe that even London is suffering Arctic conditions. Yes, it is cold. Yes, London is colder than nomal. But many places around Europe are a whole lot colder.

Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries (editors / hiddeneurope)