Welcome to Locally Sourced, a biweekly Covering Climate Now newsletter for journalists working to localize the climate story. Share this newsletter with colleagues and journalism students interested in localizing the climate story. Vea la versión en español de Fuentes Locales.
Story Spark: Cold Snaps
Last month, in the midst of the world’s hottest January on record, an outbreak of bitter arctic air broke cold weather records in the US and brought blizzard conditions as far south as Louisiana. Despite the doubt that frequently creeps in when dealing with extreme cold, there is some evidence that these cold snaps caused by a weakened polar vortex may be influenced by climate change, not despite it.
Climate researchers are actively exploring the link between a warming Arctic and more frequent shifts of the polar jet stream that sends cold air rushing into Europe, Asia, and North America. While there is still uncertainty with this particular climate connection, data overwhelmingly shows that every instance of extreme cold across the world has decreased in likelihood and intensity due to climate change. A recent Climate Central analysis found that the coldest day of the year has warmed by 7 degrees Fahrenheit with consecutive days of below average temperatures now six days shorter on average compared to 1970.
Record heat and cold are part of the natural variations present in our weather, but record breaking heat waves are far outpacing historic cold snaps. Over the last year, there were about five times more daily heat records than cold records across the world. These extremes, both hot and cold, will continue as our climate warms and weather patterns become further destabilized.
Stories We Like
- Vox explains how many cold snaps and winter storms can be traced back to warming at the poles, which disrupts polar atmospheric circulations.
- Yale Climate Connections explores what caused January’s cold weather which broke records across the US and brought historic snow to the Gulf Coast.
- CBS News highlights how a warming planet drives more extreme weather events, including cold snaps.
- In France’s wine region, vineyards have been hit hard by the impacts of climate change, including frost caused by outbreaks of cold air. Euro News reports how winemakers are adapting.
- What exactly is the “polar vortex?” The Conversation dives into this often misunderstood feature of our atmosphere.
- Near the North Pole, PBS highlights a team of scientists working to better understand how changes to the Arctic atmosphere can have global implications.
Expert Tips
David Dickson, CCNow’s resident meteorologist and TV Engagement Coordinator, offers some weather tips to ensure your reporting on extreme cold is meteorologically factual.
Know what the polar vortex is (and isn’t). The polar vortex is a circulating band of strong winds high up in our stratosphere that blow around the poles every winter, enclosing a large pool of extremely cold air. When this circulation weakens, it allows for this cold Arctic air to spill southward. Not every cold snap can be attributed to this polar vortex weakening, nor does it “hit” your area as it occurs 10-15 km above the ground and never reaches the surface. I recommend exploring more about this atmospheric phenomenon to ensure you use this fun meteorological term properly.
Climate v. weather. Often, statements refuting the validity that our planet is warming stem from misunderstanding the difference between climate and weather. In a nutshell, weather refers to the atmospheric conditions that exist at a given place at a certain time, while climate is the long-term pattern in weather conditions over time. One analogy I like is that weather tells you what to wear today, climate tells you what clothes you should have in your closet. While a single day of cold weather isn’t enough to change your wardrobe, long-term trends of fewer bitterly cold days may make you consider what clothes you keep in storage.
Less cold doesn’t mean never cold. Climate change is making extreme cold less frequent and less intense, but will not eliminate it completely. Consider occasional cold snaps in the context of longer-term trends as any single weather event is not representative of what is happening with the climate.
Dig deeper. Climate research shows that winters are warming faster than any other season, leading to a host of problems ranging from decimating summer fruit harvests to managing disease-carrying pest populations. Also explore how health, transportation, and energy risks of extreme cold may increase as less frequent cold snaps lead to lowered risk perception and preparedness.
Helpful Links
Resources
- Explore the frequency of record cold days compared to record hot days in your area using Climate Central’s interactive local records dashboard.
- Dive into the science behind the polar vortex on the (aptly named) NOAA Polar Vortex Blog.
- Find how extreme cold streaks have shortened across the US in data compiled by Climate Central.
- Check out facts and recommendations to explain cold snaps from SciLine.
Recommended Experts:
- Laura Ciasto, meteorologist, NOAA Climate Prediction Center
- Gabriel Vecchi, climate scientist, Princeton University
- Kaitlyn Trudeau, senior research associate, Climate Central
- Reach out to your local state climate office to better understand local trends and data
Before We Go…
The next Locally Sourced will highlight local climate action. Have you reported about how cities are reducing planet-warming pollution and increasing climate resilience despite rollbacks on the federal level? Send them to us at local[at]coveringclimatenow[dot]org. We’d love to consider them for the next edition of Locally Sourced and our media trainings and social platforms.
Want more tips on how to cover extreme weather? Join CCNow and Climate Central for “Prep Your Climate Coverage: Spring Weather” on Feb. 27 to understand what current climate research tells us about tornadoes, flooding, hail, and other spring severe weather.
The Climate Station is a free-of-cost training program from CCNow that equips local TV station newsrooms in the US, including journalists, producers, and meteorologists, to cover climate news more effectively. For inquiries, please email Elena González at elena[at]coveringclimatenow[dot]org. Or apply here.
Want more story ideas? Check out the Locally Sourced archive for more topics to explore, including wildfires, home insurance, attribution science, and more.
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