The Oil Drum

Well, we have all been reading about how global warming is decreasing the power of the Gulf Stream to warm Europe. I'm no oceanographer, but as I understand it: With increased average temperatures, icecaps and glaclers melt, dumping cold water onto the surface of the Atlantic, and counteracting the northward flow of warm water from the Caribbean via the Gulf Stream. Here's a link: http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/32.htm

Thus, while global warming may rise average overall Earth temperatures, it could lead to colder European winters if this scenario is what's playing out.

France and Italy no doubt got snow last year in March.  Spain has been getting very heavy snows in the Pyrenees since 2001 which has resulted in extremely unusual snow falling in Barcelona city area and even on the island of Majorca in February 2003 and 2005.  There has not been a previous snow in Majorca since 1985.  Last year brought freezes to the southern mountains around Malaga.  So far this year, Barce' has received snow on 26 Jan.  Only the higher mountain peaks south of Granada usually get snow, but this year the range is completely white from Granada south all the way to the coast.  Snow even reached the lower mountain elevations ringing Malaga and Marbella.  I have also seen reports saying some mountains in Morocco and Libya have had snow this year too.