President Trump mocked climate change advocates Wednesday by questioning whether the world was really experiencing “global warming” if some American cities were predicted to experience their coldest Thanksgiving holiday on record.
“Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS – Whatever happened to Global Warming?” Trump tweeted.
Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS – Whatever happened to Global Warming?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2018
Trump’s comment comes as many weather forecasters predict an arctic air mass will drive down temperatures in the country’s Northeast over the weekend, potentially contributing to one of the chilliest Thanksgivings and Black Fridays on the books in some areas. Cities that could be affected include New York City; Boston; Providence, R.I; Philadelphia; and Burlington, Vt., according to the Weather Channel.
Many scientists argue that despite cold winters, there is still a trend of warming temperatures recorded around the planet. They also differentiate between weather patterns and broader climate shifts.
“Even though the planet is getting warmer, cold weather still happens in winter or at very high elevations or high latitudes year-round,” the Union of Concerned Scientists explains on its website. “Northern hemisphere winter weather patterns are a complex interplay between the upper atmosphere conditions over polar regions and mid-latitude conditions over the oceans and on land.”
