Why is it so cold if there's global warming? Extreme winter weather can deepen misconceptions about climate

"Record cold temperatures are once again expected to hit a swath of the country this weekend-even plunging Florida into its coldest stretch of the last 15 years, potentially bringing snow to areas of the state that haven't seen it in four decades. This arctic blast is actually a sign of climate change, and how more extreme weather happens in an increasingly warming world, despite erroneous claims by the president and others."

"Ahead of the winter storm that brought intense snow, ice, and freezing temperatures to about two-thirds of the United States earlier this month, President Trump took to Truth Social to repeat a common piece of climate misinformation. "Record Cold Wave expected to hit 40 states. Rarely seen anything like it before," he wrote. "Could the Environmental Insurrectionals please explain - WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING???" Trump repeated this sentiment in a recent speech. But his comments reveal a deep misunderstanding about climate change."

"There is a difference between weather and climate. Weather is short, variable, and has to do with the current conditions in any place at a specific time. Climate, on the other hand, has to do with long-term trends and patterns. As climate change worsens and the planet warms, it leads to trends of hotter and hotter years. But it also exacerbates weather extremes."

Record cold temperatures are expected to hit a large portion of the country this weekend, plunging Florida into its coldest stretch in 15 years and potentially bringing snow to areas that have not seen it in four decades. The arctic blast exemplifies how climate change can produce more extreme weather even as average global temperatures rise. Weather refers to short-term, variable local conditions, while climate refers to long-term trends and patterns. Worsening climate change drives a trend toward hotter years overall and simultaneously amplifies the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including intense cold outbreaks.

Read at Fast Company