It truly is a time of extremes. While California faces what may be its worst drought on record (see "California thirstin'", below right), the UK is wrestling with torrential floods. "In some parts of the country, this has been the wettest January since Met Office records began" over 100 years ago, says John Curtin of the Environment Agency. Downpours have battered the UK for weeks, and more are predicted for February. The floods may be linked to the "polar vortex" in the US. In January polar air gushed south, triggering sub-zero temperatures. The cold air boosted the jet stream, hurling low-pressure systems at the UK. "The weather we're facing here is caused by an imbalance in temperatures over in the US," says Curtin.
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