Heavy snowstorms hit Russia's far east

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Jan 8 AFP

[http://news.f2.com.au/2002/01/08/FFXKIK2A2WC.html]

A major snowstorm has hit Russia's Pacific Primorye region, paralysing the ports of Vladivostok and Nakhodka, weather officials said today.

Some two months' worth of snow showered down upon the far eastern region, piling half a metre of snow upon numerous villages and bringing down electrical lines.

Vladivostok dwellers also witnessed a rare snow thunderstorm, which had been seen only twice in the 20th century.

Russia's Far East was hit with unprecedented frost, powerful floods and hurricanes last year, meteorologists said.

They added that global warming might be the cause of the exceptional weather.