Today we got some 5-10 cm new snow to the top of already existing 25
cm, but strong and gusty wind added accumulation on roads.Reading
about the Midlands misery this week helped to put our local news to a
new perspective:

- Turku (EFTU) suffered the worst, as there the wind was strongest and
gustiest (and if I remember correctly, they have only one runway and
thus side wind today). "Several" flights were cancelled (says Helsinki
newspaper), another source sets the number: three.

- Trains were also in trouble, and there was delays all day long.
Maximum delay up to 20 minutes.

- 78 minor car accidents, no casualities. Many drivers drive 30 km/h.

- The Police wish that people who drive very slowly would occasionally
stop at a bus stop and let the queue pass safely. Amen.

We just came 98 km from the inlaws through the blizzard. We have a bag
of sand in the boot as a stabilizer, and we drove a bit slowlier (70
km/h on a highway where the winter limit is 100 km/h).

Yes there has been power breaks in the east, when wet snow and wind
fall trees to power lines. But the houses are well insulated (double
doors and triple windows), and most houses in sparcely populated areas
have a fireplace or oven as an additional heat source (and firewood
stored for their sauna).

Someone mentioned open fire under lorry motors as a preheater. That's
Siberia. We have an electrical block heater and a timer. Some have a
diesel-fired coolant heater.

Whatever the weather, enjoy...
Elena