US - Canada - Economy: Anemic Economic Figures For US And Canada blamed on Severe Winter

U.S. growth is expected to come in at around 1.7 per cent for the January to March period. In Canada, the number is even bleaker — a mere 0.5 per cent. Both figures are well behind growth rates seen elsewhere in the developed world.

The average growth rate across G7 countries is expected to be 2.2 per cent.

"The United States and Canada are both also expected to experience an uneven pattern of growth in the near term, owing in part to the disruptive effect of repeated episodes of severe winter weather," the think-tank said.

"A number of activities were restrained by the storms and cold temperatures, which is likely to depress first-quarter GDP, with some bounceback effect in the second quarter in the absence of further negative shocks."

But the slowdown, even in chilly North America, will be temporary, the OECD says, after winter eventually releases its icy grip. Canada's economy will expand by 2.4 per cent in the spring quarter, the OECD predicts.

In almost all economies, consensus forecasts for 2014 have ratcheted up over the last few months.

The North American slowdown actually started in the last quarter of 2013, as the U.S. government shutdown caused economic activity overall to be slower than it would have been otherwise.

Economy will rebound after rough winter, OECD says - Business - CBC News

Severe Weather: Eight die as storm whips across northern Europe

Storm damage and death in the Netherlands

A storm battering north-western Europe has killed eight people - four of them in southern England.

Two people died when their car was crushed by a falling tree in Gelsenkirchen, in western Germany. Two children in the car were injured.

In Brittany, western France, a woman was swept out to sea. And in the Dutch city of Amsterdam a tree felled by the wind crushed a woman by a canal.

Many trains were cancelled in and around London and in north Germany.

In many cases in the UK fallen trees had to be cleared from railway lines.

At least 50 flights have been cancelled at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands, and the German broadcaster ARD says there are severe delays at Hamburg airport.

In the UK as many as 600,000 homes suffered power cuts, though many were later reconnected.
Power cuts also hit 42,000 homes in northern France, and at Belle-Ile in Brittany a woman was swept into the sea from a cliff.

Read more: BBC News - Eight die as storm whips across northern Europe

Netherlands Has Longest Ever Traffic Jams Because of Heavy Snow

The Netherlands had its longest traffic jams ever today during the morning rush hour because of heavy snowfall, according to Dutch motoring association ANWB.

The total length of vehicle backups on motorway and multilane highways in the country was more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) at 8:30 a.m., Arnoud Broekhuis, traffic manager at The Hague-based ANWB, said in an interview today. The second- longest was on Feb. 8, 1999, at 975 kilometers, Broekhuis said. “The morning rush will seamlessly go over into an evening rush,” he said.

Several flights were canceled or delayed at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, according to the airport’s website. Train traffic in some parts of the Randstad area, which encompasses the four largest cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, was also disrupted, according to Dutch Railways NS. Trams in cities including Amsterdam and The Hague also suffered delays.

The national KNMI weather institute hadn’t issued a weather alert for today. In cities such as The Hague snow was as high as 20 centimeters (7.9 inches), Broekhuis said. The ANWB advised people to stay home. “Some will spend their entire day in the car and won’t get anywhere,” Broekhuis said.

Read more: Netherlands Has Longest Ever Traffic Jams Because of Heavy Snow - Bloomberg

Russia: Biggest snowfall in 50 years hits Moscow

A snowstorm has dumped a record 12cm of snow on the Russian capital in 24 hours causing disruption across the city. The roads in the capital were clogged up and bulldozers were brought in to clear Red Square.

Forecasters say that the storm will continue until Friday morning. Moscow's city hall said the Russian capital had not seen such a big snowfall in November for 50 years snowfall in Moscow.

Read more: Biggest snowfall in 50  years hits Moscow

London Olympics: Rain and security sparks a rethink

Two London venues are waterlogged, and are hastily being resurfaced, as Games organisers review their contingency plans due to a particularly wet July that literally threatens to dampen the world's biggest sporting event.

At a time of year when wet weather gear should be closeted, Londoners are bemoaning that two of the last three months have been the wettest on record. Olympic bosses yesterday recommended that spectators to the rowing and equestrian should prepare to attend in wellington boots.

Outlining how rowing, canoe and equestrian events, plus the modern pentathlon competition, could be interrupted and - in the worst case - delayed, London Olympics organising committee boss Seb Coe admitted the persistent rain in London was "actually proving quite a challenge".

Read more: Rain sparks a rethink

The Netherlands: Snow causes major traffic problems, trains and planes cancelled

Heavy snow over much of the country this morning caused serious disruption on the roads and led Dutch Rail (NS) to adapt train services. Some flights from Schiphol airport were also delayed. By 14.30 hours there were 800 km of traffic jams, as the snow moved southwards over the country.

The NS (Dutch Railroad) said it was reducing Sprinter train services for the rest of the day but Intercity trains would continue as normal. By the afternoon the heavy snow led to chaos on the roads and serious disruption to train services, with no rush hour trains to and from Utrecht and Amsterdam.  Up to 14 cm of snow fell in some places, causing serious problems on the roads.

By 16.00 hrs, some 900 accidents on minor and provincial roads had been reported and the ANWB motoring organization urged people in central parts of the country not to drive.

The Dutch KNMI weather channel issued a code orange severe weather warning in western provinces, saying up to 10 cm of additional snow could fall in some places. They said that once the snow has fallen it will remain very cold and dry, with heavy frosts at night. The weekend will again be clear and sunny.  The KNMI expects the cold weather to continue until at least next Friday.

For more: DutchNews.nl - Snow causes major traffic problems, trains and planes cancelled

Europe freeze: More deaths in Ukraine and Poland

Europe's current cold snap has claimed more than 110 lives so far, including 63 in Ukraine and 29 in Poland.

The Serbian authorities say about 11,000 villagers have been cut off by snow and blizzards in remote areas.

Emergency services have described the situation, close to Serbia's south-western borders with Kosovo and Montenegro, as very serious.

For more: BBC News - Europe freeze: More deaths in Ukraine and Poland

The Netherlands: High Water Sparks Dutch Evacuations

Dozens of farmers were warned to evacuate land north of the Dutch capital Thursday as a dike protecting the area threatened to collapse.

Local mayor Ben Plandsoen told national broadcaster NOS that a polder - reclaimed land that is drained by pumps and mills - would likely be submerged under some 40 centimeters (16 inches) of water if the dike protecting it breaks.

The densely populated nation of nearly 17 million, 25 percent of which lies below sea level, has been drenched by heavy rain and buffeted by strong northwesterly winds for days.The rain saturated dikes and filled drainage canals and rivers while gales lashing the coast hampered efforts to pump the excess water out of canals and into the sea.

No deaths or injuries have been reported in the Netherlands, though the strong winds caused delays at the country's main airport, Schiphol, and on railways.

For more: High Water Sparks Dutch Evacuations - weather.com

US Weather: "Killer" Winter Storm Seen From Space; U.S. Blanked - by Christine Dell'Amore

You could call it Snowpocalypse 2011—one of the biggest and worst winter storms since the 1950s has walloped at least 30 U.S. states, according to NASA.

Snow, sleet, freezing rain, and just plain old rain have fallen as part of a massive system that stretches from Texas, through the Rockies, and into New England. (Explore an interactive map of the United States.)

NASA satellites have been monitoring the storm's clouds and movement every 15 minutes, beaming back pictures of much of the U.S. blanketed in white.

For more: "Killer" Winter Storm Seen From Space; U.S. Blanketed