The U.S. federal agency charged with studying climate science reminded Americans on Tuesday that a powerful winter storm does not prove global warming is a myth.
Hours after President Trump made a mocking reference to global warming as an extreme cold snap descends on the Midwest, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climate arm tweeted a cartoon showing the few atmospheric and oceanic ingredients required for wintry weather.
“Winter storms don’t prove that global warming isn’t happening,” the tweet said.
Winter storms don’t prove that global warming isn’t happening. https://t.co/LDqfq4JH9n pic.twitter.com/ndmLD637Cb
— NOAA Climate.gov (@NOAAClimate) January 29, 2019
Included in the tweet is a link to a news feature from 2015 that answers the question: “Are record snowstorms proof that global warming isn’t happening?”
“No,” began the piece from Caitlyn Kennedy, a writer for NOAA. “Snowstorms require two things: moisture and freezing air temperatures. There are plenty of places where winter temperatures would have to rise by 10, 20, even 30 degrees Fahrenheit before it would stop snowing. Until then, snowstorms remain quite possible, and natural climate patterns and random variability will still lead to winters that are unusually cold and snowy in different locations.”
With a polar vortex plunging into the Midwest this week, putting millions of people at risk of hypothermia and frostbite, Trump made a sarcastic plea for the return of global warming.
“In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder,” Trump tweeted Monday night. “People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global [Warming]? Please come back fast, we need you!”
[Previous coverage: Trump mocks global warming amid frigid Thanksgiving forecasts]
In the beautiful Midwest, windchill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days, expected to get even colder. People can’t last outside even for minutes. What the hell is going on with Global Waming? Please come back fast, we need you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2019
Most scientists believe climate change accelerated by fossil fuel consumption is occurring. While global temperatures on average are on the rise, that does not preclude cold weather.
