Reply #48: No, you don't understand...

[Interrobang]

The phenomenon called "global warming" is actually a bit of a misnomer -- it should more accurately be called "climactic shift," meaning that in areas where we have extreme temperatures, the hots are getting hotter, and the colds are getting colder. (The mean temperature is rising a bit, though.) It also means that we're seeing more in the way of unusual and extreme weather events, flooding, forest fires, advancing desertification in water-poor areas and water stress, and flora, fauna, and diseases changing their ranges (increasing in some areas, decreasing in others). That all these effects are caused by a slight increase in global temperature is true, but it in no way negates the validity of the effect to have colder weather in some areas at some times, and warmer in others.

Basically, global warming, or climactic shift is responsible for BOTH the extreme heat wave AND the cold snap.

Also, according to a friend of mine who had it checked with Environment Canada, we should expect this heat wave (~0.85 probability) next year, so it isn't just Europe's problem, either.