Global warming works in mysterious ways

Gee, it's only 41 below in Ester today. According to Hans' mom, it was down to -20 degrees Celsius in Essen, but it's since warmed up to 0˚C.

Finally, winter comes to Alaska. No actual cold snap yet, though (I know, it's cold, but temperature alone does not a snap make). The weather is variable, there hasn't been an inversion, but the ice fog is thick, thick, thick.

Yet, the polar ice was at a record low this year. (Here's links to the International Arctic Research Center, which is studying the problem, and here's a popular article about it.)