This year's winter is markedly mild in Europe,and Moscow.According to the BBC,"Whilst most of the UK and Europe have been experiencing a mild winter so far, the usually cold and snowy city of Moscow in Russia has also experienced a particularly mild winter to date. In fact, the first 2 weeks of January 2007 are being reported as the mildest the Russian capital has seen in 130 years.

January in Moscow is normally the coldest month of the year. However, this year temperatures are averaging above zero whereas it is normally around –9C (16F). On January 11th, the thermometer climbed to 8.6C (47F), some 4C above the previous record set in 1957.

This is in complete contrast to last winter when much of Russia was gripped by a deep freeze with temperatures plummeting to –34C (-29F) during the long winter nights.

The temperature in Moscow on Tuesday hovered within a degree or so of freezing as the milder weather continued, with a few light snow flurries reported. However, Moscow meteorologists are forecasting that the “real Moscow winter” will arrive by late January.
Muscovites are more likely to be seen strolling through the lush green grass still in evidence, which would normally be buried under deep snow and ice.

Along with all the other parts of the world currently experiencing warmer than usual weather, the mild conditions have confused animals and plants in Russia too. Bears are reported not to be hibernating as usual, whilst bulbs have been spotted shooting weeks ahead of schedule."

In India too,the winter has suddenly vanished.While the North had a week or so of some cold below normal weather,the central parts of India and Western India,have yet to experience a cold spell.The temperatures over the country have again shot up to 2-4°c above normal.

I mentioned in my previous blog about Mumbai temperatures shooting up suddenly.Well,the graph illustrates this clearly.And in this diagram,most of the portion in the 30 day period is red,indicating above normal temperatures,and the last 2 days show the suddden jump.
Even in Pune,the 30 day period,in the diagram shows a continuous red area,indicating a non-stop above normal "hot" period.

Maharastra and Gujarat are going through a "no winter"period.The lowest temperatures in the two states has not gone below 9°c this year!Nasik has bearly touched 10°c,and Deesa in Gujarat 8°c.Should and could have gone as low as 2-3°c,in some places by now.In fact,the days have started getting into the low 30s,and Pune today was at 33°c!Experts from these states,please let me have your views on this.