The United States is bracing for one of its most extreme winter storms in years, with cold air from the Arctic expected to blanket nearly two-thirds of the country. Temperatures are set to plummet into negative territory, posing a "life-threatening risk of hypothermia and frostbite" as wind chill values drop. This isn't just an issue for forecasters; it's also a matter of public safety.
Unlike heatwaves, which often provide longer periods of warning time, cold snaps can catch people off guard due to their unpredictability. Forecasting is even more challenging when the weather shifts suddenly from milder conditions to extreme cold, leaving little time to prepare.
New forecasting methods are helping improve predictions for future winter storms, but they face challenges in keeping pace with rapidly changing global temperatures and other environmental factors that contribute to extreme weather events. The US government's deliberate cuts to its scientific research budget have also limited the data needed to create more accurate forecasts.
A team of researchers at MIT found that even years after a period of intense cold weather, signs can be detected in distant regions like Eurasia and parts of the Arctic. While this suggests that climate change plays some role in increasing extreme weather, its impact remains unclear.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts held a competition to develop more accurate models, which remain among the toughest challenges for forecasters. As the planet warms overall, winter temperatures are rising faster than summer months, but periods of intense cold will continue – and that is an area where scientists are still working to understand how human activity contributes.
In this case, it's unclear just what role climate change plays in bringing these extreme cold snaps; some researchers believe global warming has actually led to fewer extremely cold temperatures. The impact of warmer Arctic temperatures on winter storms remains a contentious topic among scientists.
Unlike heatwaves, which often provide longer periods of warning time, cold snaps can catch people off guard due to their unpredictability. Forecasting is even more challenging when the weather shifts suddenly from milder conditions to extreme cold, leaving little time to prepare.
New forecasting methods are helping improve predictions for future winter storms, but they face challenges in keeping pace with rapidly changing global temperatures and other environmental factors that contribute to extreme weather events. The US government's deliberate cuts to its scientific research budget have also limited the data needed to create more accurate forecasts.
A team of researchers at MIT found that even years after a period of intense cold weather, signs can be detected in distant regions like Eurasia and parts of the Arctic. While this suggests that climate change plays some role in increasing extreme weather, its impact remains unclear.
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts held a competition to develop more accurate models, which remain among the toughest challenges for forecasters. As the planet warms overall, winter temperatures are rising faster than summer months, but periods of intense cold will continue – and that is an area where scientists are still working to understand how human activity contributes.
In this case, it's unclear just what role climate change plays in bringing these extreme cold snaps; some researchers believe global warming has actually led to fewer extremely cold temperatures. The impact of warmer Arctic temperatures on winter storms remains a contentious topic among scientists.
like, 2/3 of the country is gonna be FREEZING and I'm low-key hyperventilating just thinkin about it 
. forecasters are strugglin to keep up w/ all these crazy cold snaps & it's really scary cuz ppl might not know when to b prepared 
. i wish they cud figger out how 2 predict weather w/ more accuracy 4 real tho! 
meanwhile, scientists r still tryin 2 figger out wht role climate change plays in makin these extreme cold snaps & it's like, super confusing 
. I mean, some ppl think global warming actually reduces the likelihood of super crazy cold temps 
but others r all like "no way, it's causin more extreme weather events" 
. idk what 2 believe 
. and don't even get me started on the impact of climate change 
. some scientists say it's actually making these things less common, while others think it's the opposite 
. i guess we'll just have to keep an eye on the forecast and hope for the best 
.
I feel so bad for people living in the US during this storm! 
. I wish they had more info on how long this cold snap will last, so they can plan ahead better. 
Anyway, I hope everyone stays safe and warm over there! 
! like my cousin's car broke down on the side of the road last week and it was like -20°C outside 
. I feel so bad for people who don't have warm homes or proper winter gear. I know some ppl who live in these areas are super prepared, but what about those who aren't? 
. They think global warming might be making extreme cold snaps less common, which sounds weird to me. Anyway, I just wanna make sure everyone stays safe and warm during this crazy winter storm 
and the budget cuts? 
come on, you can't expect ppl to be safe when the data is scarce, that's just cruel 
Like what's going on with our weather? Can't we just have a normal winter for once?! Anyway, I feel bad for everyone who has to deal with this stuff - hypothermia and frostbite are no joke 
. It's like, I get it, forecasting is hard and all 
. Like, how are you supposed to prepare for extreme weather events when you're not even collecting enough data? 
It's just common sense, you know?
and it looks like it could be a game-changer 
️. But seriously, let's all just hope everyone stays safe out there 
and that these scientists can get their act together soon! 
️
. But seriously, what's up with the warming Arctic? Is it actually contributing to more extreme weather or what? Can we get some real answers here?! 
.
. The fact that researchers at MIT have found signs of climate change's impact on extreme weather events years after the initial cold snap is a fascinating area of study 
.
. The impact of warmer Arctic temperatures on winter storms is a contentious topic among researchers, and more study is needed to fully understand this phenomenon 
.
I'm so worried about the people who aren't prepared for this crazy weather! 
it's not just about having a warm coat and some hot chocolate, you gotta have a plan in place too... like making sure your pipes don't freeze 
or having a backup power source 