Paper Monitor
A service highlighting the riches of the daily press.
Brrrr. Cold enough for you?
"BRITAIN'S COLDER THAN THE ARCTIC" bellows the Daily Express Weatherâ„¢.
Interesting. Really?
As snow and sleet hit parts of the country over the weekend, icy winds saw temperatures hover around freezing, making most of Britain chillier than Hammerfest in Norway. The world's most northerly city, 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle, is expected to hit a balmy 8C today.
And Met Office forecaster Helen Roberts is largely down to wind chill from gusts whistling in from Russia and Scandinavia.
The Norwegian city proves to be a popular comparison. The Daily Telegraph - - notes:
Britain will be colder than Hammerfest, Norway, the world's most northerly city - 300 miles north of the Arctic Circle - which will enjoy 5C highs.
Apart from the 8C or 5C conundrum, the question that first occurs to Paper Monitor is what is the average temperature for this time of year in Hammerfest? Perhaps, as the UK shivers in the teeth of Nordic winds, it is enjoying an unusually balmy spell and the local papers crow about Hammerfest being warmer than Hartlepool, or Norway warmer than Newquay.
Sure enough, its average temperature in February is -6C, with average highs of -4C.
Brrrr!