New England’s elusive ski season cut short

- Temperatures that soared into the 80s this week are wreaking havoc on spring skiing. A few days ago, half the trails in Vt. and N.H.were open; now only about quarter remain.

The winter that wasn’t

- The last few days have left us with little doubt: This will go down as The Year We Had No Winter.

Mild winter raises forest fire threat

- Extraordinarily dry conditions from the lack of snowfall - combined with all the fallen tree limbs from last year’s triple whammy of tornadoes, Tropical Storm Irene, and the Halloween-eve snowstorm - will make the next few months the most dangerous forest fire season in memory in Massachusetts, state officials warn.

THE BIG PICTURE

Afghanistan: February 2012 

- February was a violent month in Afghanistan and harsher than usual winter weather added to the misery. (48 photos total)

Syrup makers toil this winter

- Record winter temperatures are wreaking havoc with maple tree systems, forcing syrup producers to tap trunks early to catch the best, most sugary sap.

Snow removal companies facing the unthinkable

- After last winter’s heavy weather, many companies readied for anything this year, except that strangest of occurrences: a winter with almost no snow.

Up to six inches of snow could blanket some areas of Massachusetts on Saturday.

Blizzard of 1978 anniversary falls on a very nice day

- Normally, cars whiz by on Route 128 in Needham. But on that day, nobody was going anywhere.

TECH LAB PLUS

Keep a head warm with cool music

- If you’d like a little music during your stroll, Colorado-based Tooks International has just the winter cap for you.

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Extreme cold weather hits Europe

- Frigid temperatures have gripped Europe in the last week, with the mercury reaching as low as 35 degrees Celsius below zero. After what had been a relatively mild winter, the sudden cold caught many unprepared. Recorded temperatures in Italy were the lowest in 27 years. (45 photos total)