The city of Rome usually enjoys moderate winters but this weekend the city was covered in knee deep snow. Drivers also had to deal with ice. The temperatures rose only slightly, but that wasn't enough to cause any significant melting.

In japan the snow is so thick and heavy that it collapsed an iron bridge near Nagano. Structural engineers say the bridge has already been weakened by last March's earthquake. The bridge had been closed to traffic since the quake. There were about three feet of snow in the bridge when it collapsed.

In the southern hemisphere where it is summer, the problem is rain. Crews are busily working to evacuate four thousand people stranded by rsiing floodwaters in Queensland and New South Wales. The rivers are expected to crest tomorrow night. The military is using helicopters and C-130 cargo planes to get the people out of the danger area.