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Snow brings disruption in Europe Snow brings disruption in Europe
(20 minutes later)
Severe winter weather has brought dangerous conditions and transport disruption to parts of Europe.Severe winter weather has brought dangerous conditions and transport disruption to parts of Europe.
In the UK, thousands of schools are closed and travellers have been hit by major delays after heavy snowfall affected large parts of the country. Temperatures as low as -22C (-8F) have left 122 dead in Poland and the main river, the Vistula, has frozen over, causing fears of flooding.
Temperatures as low as -22C (-8F) have left 122 dead in Poland this winter and the main river, the Vistula, has frozen over, causing fears of flooding. In the UK, thousands of schools are closed and travellers have been hit by major delays after heavy snowfall hit large parts of the country.
In the Swiss Alps avalanches have killed at least seven people. Western France has issued a weather alert for 14 regions.
Western France has issued a weather alert for 14 regions hit by heavy snow.
Extreme or severe weather warnings are still in place across the UK, which is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years.Extreme or severe weather warnings are still in place across the UK, which is in the grip of its longest cold snap for almost 30 years.
UK travel chaos Hospitals across the country have implemented major incident plans to deal with the weather.
Its hospitals have implemented major incident plans to deal with the extreme weather.
On Tuesday up to 20cm (8in) of snow fell in parts of Scotland and northern England, causing travel chaos for millions of people.On Tuesday up to 20cm (8in) of snow fell in parts of Scotland and northern England, causing travel chaos for millions of people.
Another 40cm (16in) has been forecast in some areas as the snowfalls spread from north to south.Another 40cm (16in) has been forecast in some areas as the snowfalls spread from north to south.
Gatwick airport was closed on Wednesday morning, while Heathrow, Birmingham, Luton and Southampton were open but suffering delays and cancellations. London Gatwick airport was closed on Wednesday morning, while Heathrow, Birmingham, Luton and Southampton were open but suffering delays and cancellations.
Avalanches
Forecasters at the UK's Met Office said the bitterly cold weather was forecast to continue for the next couple of weeks, with further snowfall expected at times.Forecasters at the UK's Met Office said the bitterly cold weather was forecast to continue for the next couple of weeks, with further snowfall expected at times.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on people to "look out for neighbours and relatives in need of assistance". Prime Minister Gordon Brown called on people "look out for neighbours and relatives in need of assistance".
ANALYSIS Adam Easton, BBC News, WarsawANALYSIS Adam Easton, BBC News, Warsaw
According to the police in Poland, most of the victims of the cold were homeless men in their 30s and 40s, who died from hypothermia after drinking.According to the police in Poland, most of the victims of the cold were homeless men in their 30s and 40s, who died from hypothermia after drinking.
Most of the country is covered in snow. But Poles are used to such conditions and they are coping fairly well. Sub zero temperatures and the freezing of the Vistula happen every year.Most of the country is covered in snow. But Poles are used to such conditions and they are coping fairly well. Sub zero temperatures and the freezing of the Vistula happen every year.
In the winter four years ago, temperatures fell to -35 and 233 people were killed.In the winter four years ago, temperatures fell to -35 and 233 people were killed.
France's regional transport centre said secondary roads in several departments, including Brittany, Cotes d'Armor and Finistere, were almost impassable.France's regional transport centre said secondary roads in several departments, including Brittany, Cotes d'Armor and Finistere, were almost impassable.
"The combination of snow and ice is making movement very difficult," Le Point newspaper quoted officials as saying."The combination of snow and ice is making movement very difficult," Le Point newspaper quoted officials as saying.
The death toll in Poland has now risen to 122 - most of the dead were reported to have been homeless people.The death toll in Poland has now risen to 122 - most of the dead were reported to have been homeless people.
In Burzyska nad Bugiem, in the east of the country, the army has installed makeshift bridges after flooding and ice split the village in two.In Burzyska nad Bugiem, in the east of the country, the army has installed makeshift bridges after flooding and ice split the village in two.
On Tuesday, Swiss rescue teams found the bodies of three skiers - two men and a woman.On Tuesday, Swiss rescue teams found the bodies of three skiers - two men and a woman.
They were part of a group caught in an avalanche in the Diemtigtal valley about 40km (25 miles) south of the Swiss capital Bern, on Sunday. They were part of a group of skiers caught in an avalanche in the Diemtigtal valley about 40km (25 miles) south of the Swiss capital Bern, on Sunday.
The deaths bring to seven the number of people killed in the disaster.The deaths bring to seven the number of people killed in the disaster.
But in the Netherlands, hundreds of people embraced the chill, taking part in the traditional skating event held on frozen Hanschoter Lake in Utrecht.
The Dutch skating federation said on Tuesday that the shallow lake had frozen to a depth of 12cm (4in), making it safe for skating.

Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places.
Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. At the weekend, up to 30cm (12in) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin. Dozens of people have also died in a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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Why the cold weather?

The current big chill is a result of high pressure over the polar region, which has pushed cold air out of the Arctic towards much of northern Europe, parts of Asia and the US. Winds from the north and north east, rather than the south and south west, have brought freezing temperatures to the UK.
Provisional Met Office figures for December show temperatures for much of the UK were 1.5C and 2.5C below the mean temperatures for the last 30 years. Scotland saw temperatures dip still lower - from 2.5C to 3.5C. On Tuesday, temperatures in Scotland plunged to -15C in places.
Winds from the north also brought cold weather to parts of Asia, with Beijing receiving its heaviest snowfall for nearly 60 years. At the weekend, up to 30cm (12in) of snow fell in China's capital and its neighbouring port city of Tianjin. Dozens of people have also died in a cold snap in northern India.
However, while parts of the world suffer freezing temperatures, the seesaw patterns mean other areas are warmer than usual, including Alaska, northern Canada and the Mediterranean. Met Office figures for the end of 2009 show some places dropped 10C below the average, while others were 10C above.
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