WHAT a difference a year makes.

A southerly airflow brought positively spring like conditions to Cornwall over the weekend, almost 12 months on from the chaos wrought by the Beast from the East.

Northholt, in London, reached an unseasonably balmy 15.6 degrees celcius yesterday, in contrast to the sub-zero temperatures that hit the country on February 24 last year, bringing with it masses of snow which continued into March.

Marco Ferrari's story from last year's Packet on Wednesday, March 7, began: "The Beast from the East anticyclone brought extreme weather from Siberia last week, causing major disruptions to infrastructure and businesses in Falmouth.

"Many shoppers in the area were left unable to buy essential items such as bread and milk as deliveries to major supermarkets were made impossible by the hazardous driving conditions..."

All of Cornwall’s 279 schools were closed and three schools (St Dennis, Boyton, and Porthleven) remained closed into a second week due to burst water mains.

The lowest recorded temperature in the UK during last year's big freeze was minus 11 in Scotland, almost 25 degrees colder than Sunday's temperature in London.

There were 16 weather-related deaths in Britain during the Beast from the East, including that of a seven-year-old Looe girl, who was hit by a car which slid on ice on Thursday, March 1.

By stark contrast, this year spring has sprung early, with blossoming magnolias in gardens around Cornwall reflective of the mild conditions.

This coming weekend looks like being another beautiful one in the county, with plenty of sunshine accompanied by gentle southerly winds and temperatures forecast to creep up to 14 degrees.

For a reminder of last year's conditions, visit www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/16049405.storm-emma-to-take-over-from-beast-from-the-east-bringing-further-snow/