Winter

Canadian drivers are searching for winter tires ('pneu hiver') as the cold season approaches, a familiar annual spike in Quebec and across the country where winter tires are mandatory in Quebec from December to March. Coverage from automotive outlets like Le Guide de l'auto accompanies the seasonal interest, with drivers comparing models, prices and installation deadlines.

Patients across the UK can now book free Covid-19 and flu vaccinations, with eligibility mainly covering older people, pregnant women, care home residents, frontline health and social care workers, and those with certain health conditions. The Independent has outlined who qualifies and how to book as the winter season approaches.

The United States has told France and Germany to release their diesel stockpiles or face a ban on US diesel exports, according to sources cited by Reuters. The ultimatum, if confirmed, would mark an unusually aggressive move in transatlantic energy coordination, putting pressure on European governments ahead of winter demand and raising questions about fuel supply security in the EU.

Health services are urging vulnerable people to get protected this winter with free flu vaccinations. The call comes as the season approaches, with eligible groups encouraged to take up the offer to reduce the risk of serious illness. The message has drawn attention as winter illness concerns grow across the UK.

A winter storm is expected to dump up to 11 inches of snow on parts of the United States, accompanied by gusts reaching 60 mph. Weather maps highlighting the heaviest-hit states are circulating widely, with forecasters urging residents to prepare for hazardous travel and possible power outages as the storm moves through.

Discussion is turning to whether the prolonged crypto winter is ending, with Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP at the centre of the debate. Commentators are weighing recent market movement against the extended downturn that has depressed prices and trading activity across the cryptocurrency sector since the last bull run faded.

Russia is carrying out strikes aimed at freezing Ukraine, targeting energy and heating infrastructure as winter sets in, even as its forces reportedly suffer record casualties and retreat from positions on the battlefield. The contradiction between intensifying attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and mounting losses on the front is drawing attention to the mounting costs of Moscow's invasion and Ukraine's resilience under renewed winter pressure.

A gardener is asking for advice on keeping a lemon verbena alive indoors over winter, saying the plant does well until February, when it suffers a dramatic near-death spider mite infestation. Their usual approach is finding a good spot and watering regularly, and they want other suggestions as winter sets in and houseplant pests become a common problem.

A legal battle over natural gas prices charged during Oklahoma's 2021 winter storm Uri is finally heading to trial, five years after the blast of freezing weather that caused widespread power outages across the state. The case centers on whether gas suppliers overcharged utilities and, ultimately, customers during the emergency. Oklahomans are still paying off hundreds of millions in storm-related energy costs, so the outcome could shape who ends up footing the bill.

A draft EU law known as the KIDS Act is generating wide discussion, with commentators pointing to an article by Stefan Wintermeyer published on Heise Online. The debate touches on the technical limits of proposed protections, with one argument being that no network protocol can prevent someone from simply photographing a screen with a second device. Critics are weighing whether the legislation can achieve its stated child-safety goals.

EU member states have been asked to prepare gas and electricity savings measures for the coming winter, as diesel prices exceed €2 per liter amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The appeal echoes earlier EU efforts to coordinate demand reduction across the bloc to protect households and industry from price spikes and potential supply shortfalls during the cold season.

A new atlas of respiratory viruses indicates that Covid-19 no longer follows a winter-only pattern, circulating year-round instead. The finding challenges current vaccination calendars, which schedule Covid booster campaigns seasonally like flu. Health experts are now debating whether immunisation strategies should be adjusted to reflect the virus's changed behaviour across the year.

A winter storm is forecast to bring significant snow to Alaska, with reports indicating up to 11 inches possible in parts of the state. Weather outlets are also tracking the remnants of Typhoon Dujuan, expected to impact Alaska later in the week after a brief dry spell. Maps circulating online show the earliest typical snowfall dates across the United States, putting the incoming Alaska storm in seasonal context.

The City of West Hollywood has published guidance on El Niño and storm preparedness ahead of the 2026-27 winter season. The tips are aimed at helping residents brace for potential heavy rain, flooding and wind damage, and typically cover emergency kits, drainage checks and staying informed through official alerts during severe weather events.

A USA Today report warns that millions of Americans may have no warm winter nights this year. The headline suggests households could struggle to keep their homes adequately heated through the winter season, but no further details are available about the cause, the people affected, or what is being said in response.

Brown bears in the region are omnivores whose diet follows seasonal food availability. In summer and autumn they eat intensively to build up fat reserves for winter hibernation, a phase known as hyperphagia. During this time they dig in the soil for roots and insects, drawing public interest in wildlife behaviour.

A home in the Johns Lake Pointe community recorded the highest sale price among Winter Garden properties sold between September 21 and 27, according to local real estate reporting from Orange Observer News. The item highlights the week's strongest transaction in the west Orange County, Florida market, where Johns Lake Pointe remains one of the area's notable neighborhoods.

Tickets are now on sale for the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, which will return to Charleston, South Carolina, on February 12-14. The annual event celebrates wildlife art and conservation, drawing artists, collectors and visitors to the city each winter. Organizers have opened ticket sales ahead of the three-day showcase, which is a fixture of Charleston's cultural calendar.

A men's golf team completed its fall schedule by competing at the Hamptons Intercollegiate, the final tournament of the autumn season. The event marked the close of fall competition before teams turn to winter training and spring play. Coverage of the tournament is limited, with few details so far on finishes or individual results.

Garden advice column Grounded Living recommends sowing cereal rye this autumn as a cover crop to improve soil over winter and set up vegetable gardens for a strong 2027 growing season. The piece explains how the rye protects bare ground, adds organic matter and suppresses weeds before spring planting.

Maine Governor Janet Mills is calling on Congress to increase funding for home heating assistance as oil prices hit record levels. With Maine among the most heating-oil-dependent states in the country, she is pressing federal lawmakers to deliver more support to help residents afford rising energy bills this winter.

Los Angeles County supervisors are making preparations for what officials expect to be a difficult storm season, addressing the region's readiness for heavy rain, flooding and related emergencies. The move comes as Southern California communities remain wary of severe winter weather, and local leaders are discussing measures to protect residents and infrastructure from the coming season's impacts.

Former KING 5 meteorologist Rich Marriott is attending the International Snow Science Workshop, a gathering of avalanche researchers, forecasters and mountain safety specialists. The workshop brings together experts to share findings on snowpack behavior, avalanche prediction and backcountry risk. Marriott, a longtime Seattle broadcast weather figure, is known for his expertise in mountain weather and avalanche science.