US EditionWhy this US cold snap feels bone-shattering when its not record-shattering
Recent data show four fewer subfreezing days annually since 2001, making cold snaps feel more intense and catching unprepared infrastructure off guard, experts say.
- Over the past 11 days, brutally frigid weather has gripped most of America, but data from 400 weather stations show the event is not unprecedented.
- Climate data show there have been four fewer days of subfreezing temperatures per year between 2001 and 2025, making younger Americans less familiar with cold, according to Climate Central.
- Only 33 weather stations have enough subzero records to rank among coldest days, and late last month the average daily low dipped below 10°F three times in one week.
- Utilities and infrastructure are ill-equipped for extreme cold, causing outages and more than 110 deaths since January, while ice and poor visibility strain emergency responses with crashes and perilous commutes.
- Data from more than 240 weather stations show subfreezing spells became less widespread until this year, while climate scientists say warming has shifted cold perceptions and adaptation processes ease tolerance.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Why this US cold snap feels bone-shattering when it's not record-shattering
The frigid weather gripping much of America is not unprecedented, but it feels that way. The 21st century has been unusually warm, likely due to climate change. Data from 240 weather stations across the U.S. show there have been fewer…
Why this US cold snap feels bone-shattering when its not record-shattering
The brutally frigid weather that has gripped most of America for the past 11 days is not unprecedented. It just feels that way. The first quarter of the 21st century was unusually warm by historical standards – mostly due to human-induced climate change – and so a prolonged cold spell this winter is unfamiliar to [...]
LancasterOnline
Independent EspañolThe brutally cold climate that has hit most of the United States over the past 11 days is not unprecedented. It just feels that way.
How climate change and human psychology make this US cold snap feel so
The brutally frigid weather that has gripped most of America for the past 11 days is not unprecedented. It just feels that way. The first quarter of the 21st century was unusually warm by historical standards – mostly due to human-induced climate change – and so a prolonged cold spell this winter is unfamiliar to many people, especially younger Americans. Because bone-shattering cold occurs less frequently, Americans are experiencing it more int…
Associated Press News
How climate change and human psychology make this US cold snap feel so harsh
The frigid weather gripping much of America is not unprecedented, but it feels that way. The 21st century has been unusually warm, likely due to climate change.
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