A storm with hurricane-force winds is making its way across Germany as I write. The national rail system has stopped all passenger traffic (for the first ever, by some accounts). I’m a long ways inland and in a building essentially sheltered on all sides, but it’s surely rough out there.

Dramatic rescue in the Channel, probably more trouble in the Baltic or Poland, depending on how the storm tracks. Purists will note that this is not a hurricane (being neither tropical nor having a cloud wall), but for mid-winter (or ostensibly mid-winter, the blooming and budding plant life argues otherwise) in Central Europe it’s a good little storm. Hope none of you have had to be out in it too much.