Too many people believe that snow and cold weather are proof that “global warming” is a hoax, but no one ever said climate change meant no more snow. Rather, while winters have become more mild, the weather — when it does hit — has become more severe. As evidenced by the bomb cyclone that paralyzed the whole U.S. over Christmas, the thunderstorms that swept across the state on Thursday and the potential for another ice storm tonight.
According to data gathered by USA Facts, a nonpartisan analytics organization, virtually every December in West Virginia since 2010 has been warmer than the 20th century average temperature.
Looking at charts assembled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 2000 to 2022, the rainbow-like curve that used to mark January lows up to July highs and back to December lows has become flatter, with winter temperatures hovering more and more often in the 50s and 60s. Late fall and early winter have recently seen unseasonable thunderstorms and tornados.
Sometimes, strange weather happens. But when the weather is repeatedly strange — and extreme and generally unseasonable — that’s part of a larger pattern.
It’s not too late to prevent this kind of strange weather from becoming our new normal. However, fighting against climate change takes a mix of individual action, government policy and corporate accountability. Unfortunately, there’s been too little of the last two to make any real progress. So be prepared for ever stranger weather to come our way.
