chinook.

the eskimos have a word for it.

that should be a clue to the suburban robots that this is a known phenomenon.

the january melt is characterised by a dramatic rise in air temperature and moderate winds, which together contribute to the melting of the ice and snow lying on the ground.

this event has happened at this time of year for centuries, so much so that indigenous peoplea are familiar with it.

yet the enviro-twits keep saying that this is further evidence of a man-made shift in global temperatures.

chinook means snow-eater in the eskimo language.

i have spent the last few minutes enjoying the warm breeze as i stood on my balcony looking north and west, and hoping that the warm air will stay with us for a while longer yet.

and i didn`t worry for a moment that the ecosystem would collapse any minute.