The regional climate consequences of the greatest volcanic eruptions of the last two centuries are discussed. The pattern of changes of seasonal temperature after such eruptions is compared to these changes after the Pinatubo eruption (in June 1991). The unusually warm winter of 1991--92 in Eastern Europe coincides with the pattern following earlier eruptions. According to this pattern cool summers in Eastern Europe and the northeastern USA are probable in the next two or three years. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1992