There have been a few discussions lately that have touched on this topic. Tonight's Catalyst program gives a neatly packaged 20 minute summary of the incidence of extreme weather. It includes a very concise introduction to how a warmer Arctic can lead to extended periods of cold weather in the Northern Hemisphere (wandering Rossby waves).
Catalyst: Extreme Weather - ABC TV Science
(I'm not sure how many countries can view these ABC shows. afaik, most can.)