Bees Struggling In The Cold; Cyprus Crops Hit Hard; Montreal's Snowy February; Historic Flurries Sweep Ladakh; Northern Hemisphere Snow Mass At 3,200 Gigatons; + USCRN Plunge

NH snow mass stands at 500 Gigatons above the 1982-2012 average.

Bees Struggling In The Cold

Bumblebee populations in the UK hit a record low last year, plummeting nearly 25% below the 2010-2023 average, according to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s latest report.

The primary culprit was an unusually cold spring. Early in the season, queen bumblebees act as “single mothers,” feeding themselves and their larvae while establishing new colonies. Persistent cold weather made this crucial phase far more difficult, leading to widespread population declines.

Species peaking in June and July suffered the worst, with red-tailed and white-tailed bumblebees dropping 74% and 60%, respectively. Other species hit hard include the garden bumblebee, tree bumblebee, southern cuckoo bumblebee, and buff-tailed bumblebee.

Dr. Richard Comont of the BCT warns that continued monitoring in 2025 is critical to see if these species can rebound. Unfortunately, the UK is enduring continued cold weather this year, with something of a delayed spring in the offing.

Cyprus Crops Hit Hard

Cyprus potato farmers hit by recent record-setting cold will receive financial aid, Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou confirmed Thursday.

Panayiotou, after visiting affected farms in Famagusta and Larnaca, said a four-step compensation plan has been developed in consultation with growers. Meetings with agricultural groups will continue this week.

Potato prices are expected to rise, according to Andreas Karyos of the potato producers’ association.

The Mediterranean island is having a tough time of it this winter. Thermometers tanked to a low as -12C (10.4F) this week—the coldest temperature on since 1964, and the electricity grid is struggling to cope with record-breaking demand.

More cold weather is on the way.

Montreal's Snowy February

Yet another round of heavy snow is poised to hit Quebec, bringing travel headaches as it moves in late Friday.

This storm piles onto an already impressive month for Montreal, which has seen its snowiest February in 54 years. Normally, the city averages 47 cm (18.5 in) for the month, but this year, totals stand at 100 cm (39.4 in) with a few snowy days remaining.