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23:33
Spring equinox today but winter lingers
At 11.02 GMT today the sun crossed the Equator.
And, for the next six months, the days will be longer than the nights. Spring has sprung (возникла)- and we can finally banish (изгнать) the winter blues.
Well, that's the theory.
In practice, however, the nation (народ) continues to shiver beneath severallayers (слои)of clothing, very little is growing in the ground and our weather forecasts (прогнозы) continue to warn (предупреждать) of ice, snow and severe wind-chill.(холод)
The statistics are even moresobering.(серьезная) So far, March 2013 has been colder than both this winter's December and January.
The average (средняя) temperature (day and night combined) for the UK this March to date is currently around 3C. It should normally be nearer 6C.
The chill really set in during February, and winter has dragged on ever since. The reason has been thepersistence (сохранение) of easterly winds from a frozen Continent - winds which have chilled the North Sea to just 4C or 5C. Hardly surprising, then, that eastern parts of the UK have suffered the most.
Moaning about the Great British weather is a national sport. But, when such conditions impact on our livelihood, the effects are particularly serious.
And there has been much to complain about.
In recent (в последние) days many parts of the UK have been hit by cold weather more akin (похожий) to winter.
On Tuesday, more than 100 schools were closed after heavy snow affected parts of Scotland, with whiteout conditions in some areas making driving difficult.
Inverness Airport's runway was closed at one point.
Meanwhile, Met Office amber alerts, warnings of snowfalls and gale force winds, were issued.
And, even in the hours leading up to the equinox, more light snow has been settling in north-east England and eastern Scotland, adding to large amounts of up to 10cm which hit the regions on Tuesday.
What does it means "Spring equinox" ? What number is the "Spring equinox" ? What is the reason for the continuation of winter ? What country has suffered from the winter cold more than other countries ? Do you believe that spring has a positive effect on the human organism ?
The statistics are even more sobering. So far, March 2013 has been colder than both this winter's December and January. I think it is the terrible fact. I think human organism needs warmth. I believe people are tired of winter, they want positive emotions of spring.
