The winter in Eau Claire has been very clam and well above average, but a different story in Eastern Europe and Russia.

BBC News Reports:

At least 60 people have died due to freezing conditions caused by a cold snap in eastern and central Europe. At least 30 people - mostly homeless - have died in Ukraine. Deaths have also been reported in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, among others.

Health officials in Ukraine say nearly 24,000 people have sought refuge in some 1,590 shelters over the past three days.

Poland had been having a relatively warm winter, until temperatures dropped last Friday to -26C(-15F)

Troops in Romania were deployed last week to rescue those stranded in cars by blizzards.

One thing is for sure, snow and blizzards haven't be in the forecast this winter. Only 15.9" of snow has fallen in Eau Claire. Last year in the same time period Dec 1st to Feb 8th 46.9"