Early Snows Continue In Turkey; Middle East Chill; Volcanic Heat, Not Climate Change, Behind Antarctic Ice Loss; + EU President: 'Free Speech Is An Infectious Disease'

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Early Snows Continue In Turkey

Turkey continues to experience an early taste of winter, with many regions receiving their first snowfalls of the season.

In the northern province of Kastamonu, snow depths have exceeded 50 cm (20 inches), prompting extensive road-clearing efforts.

Heavy snow has also caused disruptions in the Black Sea provinces of Trabzon and Giresun, where shepherds were rescued from a snow-covered plateau and emergency teams assisted numerous drivers stranded in their cars.

The Ayder Plateau in Rize was another region to be hit hard, as was much of the eastern province of Kars, specifically the Digor district which experienced its first snowfall back on October 21, unusually early.

Turkey's ski resorts are enjoying an early start to the season and all, with the likes of Bolu’s Kartalkaya, Erciyes, and Yıldız all reporting rare October accumulations.

Middle East Chill

Looking east, temps across West Asia have plummeted to their lowest October levels in years, with some regions experiencing cold not seen since the 1980s.