BBC report here.
I found this interesting because a few months ago, I read somewhere (think it was on the Icelandic volcano blog) that scientists had underestimated the effects of the Icelandic eruption last April/May and that the amount of ash thrown up in to the atmosphere, contributed to us having our really cold December.
On hearing this report, I remembered that New Zealand/Australia were affected by an eruption a few months ago, with airports being closed etc. So I wonder whether this 'once in a lifetime' snowstorm is a result of the volcano over that side of the world.