Extremes of weather, both north and south of the equator, have caused not just discomfort but also some serious health concerns.
In Britain heavy snowstorms, the heaviest in about 20 years, have provided the opportunity for keen photographers to get picture-perfect postcard scenes, even around the normally snow-free London. But icy roads and slippery footpaths make moving around a dangerous proposition. And the extra cold temperatures of the northern hemisphere winter have claimed the lives of many older people with poor immune systems.
