Cold spell leaves 123 dead in Russia

In neighboring Ukraine last week, the cold claimed 83 lives, new data showed.

On Tuesday the health ministry said no new figures would be released until next Friday.

South Europe sweats

From deadly cold in Russia, floods in Britain and balmy conditions that have residents in southwest France rummaging for their bathing suits, the weather has gone haywire across Europe.

While Eastern Europe shivers and Britain fights severe flooding after heavy rains, holidaymakers and residents in the south of France and in Italy have dug out their shorts and swimwear to welcome an unexpected blast of beach weather.

Temperatures on Sunday climbed to 24.3 C in Biarritz on the Atlantic coast, nearly 12 degrees hotter than the seasonal average, and nudging the 1983 record of 24.4 C.

"These are remarkable temperatures that we do not see every year," French weather forecaster Patrick Galois said.

In Austria, the small village of Brand at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, noted a Dec 24 record of 17.7 C.